Beligala | Ancient Billasela Pabbata Fortress Beligala (Sinhala: බෙලිගල) is a small mountain with the ruins of an ancient fortress situated in Beligala village near Beligala Raja Maha Viharaya in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. History As mentioned in the chronicles, King Vijayabahu III (1232-1236 A.D.) of Dambadeniya built a
fortress on the Billaselapabbata (Beligala) mountain to deposit the
Tooth and Bowl Relics of the Buddha safe during the turbulent period
after the fall of Polonnaruwa Kingdom
(Abeyawardana, 2002; Nicholas, 1963). The ruins of this ancient fortress are still found on the
Beligala mountain located in close proximity to the present Beligala Viharaya . Beligala fortress Beligala rock is nearly 190 m (623.36 ft. amsl) high and inaccessible on all sides except in the northeast. A rock-cut flight of steps facilitates one to ascend the rock and there is a cave (about 16 m deep by 4.5 m wide) named Mura-ge (guardhouse) on the halfway up (Bell, 1904; De Silva, 1990). The remains of a stone rampart, broken pillars and st…
