The fascinating activity of Caving is relatively new to Sri Lanka, but with an impressive range of caves located throughout the country it’s an unusual experience not to be missed! Known to the experts as ‘speleology’,caving involves the exploration, surveying, mapping and photographing of caves situated around Sri Lanka.
With some of Sri Lanka’s caves dating back approximately 500 million years, this is an adventure into the prehistoric! Eco Team provides local experienced guides and all the necessary gear for caving (such as raincoat, head torches, helmets, ropes etc.) making the activity accessible to amateurs and experts alike.
Rawana Ella Cave, Ella
The Rawana Ella Cave is located about 2 km from the picturesque town of Ella. It is quite a small cave, measuring about 50ft wide, 150ft long and 60ft high. However, once inside one can find several others that run 20 to 40 ft deep into its walls. Like the Sthripura Cave in Welimada, legend has it that it was used by King Rawana to hide the Princess Sita. It is also thought to be connected to the cave at the Dowa rock temple in Bandarawela (part of King Walagamba’s famous ‘tunnel network’). Archaeological findings include a human skull dating back to 20,000 BC.
Bogoda Cave, Jangulla
The Bogoda Cave is thought to have been used by the Sri Lankan King Walagamba as one of his many hide-outs from the invading South Indians. It is considered to be part of a complex ‘tunnel network’ of other hide-outs such as the Narangala mountain cave, Dowa rock temple at Bandarawela and Rawana Ella cave in Ella. However this story cannot be proved because at present, the cave only leads about 15m into the tunnel through a narrow passage.
Waulpane Cave, Pallebeda
The Waulpane Cave (aka ‘Cave of Bats’) is renowned for its many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites (approx. 500 million years old) as well as the hundreds of thousands of bats that live there! It is an isolated cavern set against the eastern slopes of the Rakwana mountain range, located about a 1 ½ hr drive from Pallebedda. Once entering the cave, you descend approx. 300 metres underground to discover this prehistoric world of ancient fossils in the cavern walls, a stream that runs through the cave and a beautiful waterfall located in the centre. As well as the many bats, watch out for the water monitors, various amphibians and fascinating luminous fish!
Batatotalena Cave, Sudagala
Batatotalena Cave is situated at Sudagala, about 5 km away from Kuruwita (85km from Colombo on the Colombo – Badulla road). In order to reach it, one has to walk about 400m from Sudagala to the base and then climb a further 50m to enter. It measures about 50ft in height, 60ft in width and 80ft in length. As an extra point of interest, about 30m from Batatotalena itself is an underground cave, partly submerged in a stream. To reach this, one has to swim about 20m!
Although it has not been proved, Buddhist literature suggests that the cave is the sacred ‘Diva Guhawa’ where the Lord Buddha rested on his way back from Sri Pada. However, concrete archaeological findings have proved that Batatotalena dates back over 25,000 years and has been used as a dwelling place during many historical eras. For example, various skeletal remains, ancient paintings, a Buddhist shrine room and a ‘Devalaya’ belonging to the Kandyan era have been excavated, whilst findings of ceramic tile and glass particles prove that it was also used as a dwelling during the Dutch era. Even at present, a Buddhist priest
resides there!