Galgepitiya Viharaya is an ancient cave temple in Badulla, with early Brahmi inscriptions and Kandyan-era architecture, protected since 2002.
Galgepitiya Raja Maha Viharaya G algepitiya Raja Maha Viharaya , also known as Shailagangaramaya (Sinhala: ගල්ගේපිටිය පුරාණ ලෙන් විහාරය, ශෛලගංගාරාමය) is a Buddhiat temple situated in Kottegoda in Badulla District, Sri Lanka. It belongs to the monks of the Ulugala Vihara lineage of the Asgiri Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya (Priyadarshani & Gunasena, 2017). History The history of this temple runs back to the early part of the Anuradhapura Period . An Early-Brahmi Inscription belonging to the 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D. is found in the Len Viharaya of this temple. The architectural elements of the present temple resembles features belonging to the Kandyan Period (Priyadarshani & Gunasena, 2017). It is said that the Buddhist monks named Irugaltissa and Suriyatissa of Ganegama Devanagala Vihara of Satara Korale resided here during the time of King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1591-1604 A.D.) of Kandy (Priyadarshani & Gunasena, 2017). A Protected Site The Len Viharaya (cave temple) on the Galgepitiya Vihare premises in t…
