
Yala National Park, including 5 blocks and the adjoining Kumana National Park consist of one of the largest land areas of Sri Lanka which wildlife roam free. Although a wildlife park now, many centauries ago, This area was covered in thriving cities of the Ruhuna Magama kingdom.
Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge) is a massive cave 5 km south of Thalaguruhela Monastery ruins. This fabulous rock, rising 400 feet in a gentle arc sheltering one of the most beautiful caves in Sri Lanka. It is approximately 200 feet long and as much as 30 feet deep in places, and had evidently housed many families in ancient times.
The cave had been partitioned with brick walls to form about a dozen rooms. The carving of the drip ledge of the cave must have been a stupendous task, for it is at the upper end of the arc at a height of some 100 feet above ground.
Now this cave is inhabited by wasps and bambara bees and bears appears to occupy some of the rooms. Going through the cave and climbing its roof, you came upon two reasonably flat rocks plateaus.
List of Archaeological Sites inside Yala and Kumana National Parks
- Akasa Chethiya
- Athurumithurugala (see map below)
- Athurumituruwewa
- Bambaragastalawa
- Bembawa
- Bowattegala
- Brahmanatota
- Dematagala
- Dikkandanegala
- Divulanagoda (Veheradivulana)
- Gonagala
- Goyankola Mayagala
- Handuneruwa
- Iriyapola
- Kanabiso Galge
- Katupila (see map below)
- Katupila Mankada (see map below)
- Kiripokunahela
- Mahakiriwedumagala
- Kongala
- Kottadamuhela
- Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge)
- Sithulpawwa Magul Maha Viharaya
- Malwariyakema
- Mandagala
- Mandagala Wewa
- Mayagala (Wadambuwa)
- Minihagalkanda
- Modaragala
- Nelumpath Pokuna
- Padikema Patanangala
- Pilimagala
- Pillinnawa Stone Pillars
- Pimbyramakanda
- Silavakanda
- Sithulpawwa Viharaya
- Thalaguruhela
- Uda pothana
- Veeragala
References
- Pieris, K. (2010) “Settlements in ancient Sri Lanka,” Daily News, 7 October.
Also See
Map of Archaeological Ruins of Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge) in Yala
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Travel Directions to Archaeological Ruins of Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge) in Yala
The park can be reached through Southern Highway. It is 275 kilometers away (shortest path through Ratnapura avoiding the Highway but travel time is longer) from Colombo.
Route from Colombo to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance | Route from Kataragama to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance |
Through : Southern Highway – Mattala – Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 275 km Travel time : 4.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Through Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 40 km Travel time : 45 minutes. Driving directions : see on google map |