Belilena Cave
A limestone cave near Kitulgala that produced human remains around thirty thousand years old, among the oldest in the region.
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Belilena is a large limestone shelter in the hills above Kitulgala where excavation from the 1970s produced skeletal remains of anatomically modern humans dated to around thirty thousand years, along with stone tools and evidence of what they ate. The finds, referred to as Balangoda Man, pushed back the record of human presence in Sri Lanka substantially. The cave itself is a wide dry chamber with a stream running below the approach.
What you actually see
- The main chamber - a wide dry limestone shelter used for tens of thousands of years.
- The excavation - the site that produced remains around thirty thousand years old.
- The climb - a steep stepped path up from the road to the mouth.
- The forest - wet zone woodland on the slopes around.
When to go
January to March is the driest window. The path is slippery after rain, which is frequent here. Mornings are best.
Honest expectations
The climb is steep and slippery with a few hundred steps. There is very little interpretation at the cave and the finds are elsewhere. Guides at the entrance vary in accuracy.
Nearby
Kitulgala is east, and Adam's Peak is northeast.
What to pack for Belilena Cave
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
