Pilikuthtuwa Cave and Forest Temples, Gampaha

Hidden away in the countryside of Gampaha lies this fascinating archaeological site. It spans over 200 acres and has over 100 caves and dripstones dotted throughout the landscape.

As told by murals etched into the rock, the caves were once a haven for Buddhist monks who sought refuge from the rain during the monsoon season many centuries ago. Today, visitors can explore the cave complex with the help of a local expert guide and see how the monks built shrines and shelters into the rockface, many of which are still used for prayers by local Buddhists today.

The hills that house the caves can also be climbed. After a relatively steep walk, visitors are rewarded with an elevated view of the beautiful surrounding countryside, with the ever-growing Colombo skyline just visible in the distance.

This experience is brought to life by an expert local guide, Prathini, who works as a heritage interpreter and freelance researcher. Prathini also holds a bachelor’s in geography, writes poetry, and has authored several books. As if this wasn’t impressive enough, she was also the female cyclist to ride the entire way around Sri Lanka’s perimeter (approximately 1500 km) – in 12 days!