Galge Viharaya in Wilpattu has drip-ledged caves, a ruined stupa, and 1st-century Later Brahmi inscriptions, revealing its early Buddhist heritage.
Galge Viharaya (Wilpattu National Park) G alge Viharaya (Sinhala: විල්පත්තු ගල්ගේ විහාරය නටඹුන්) is a site with the ruins of an ancient Buddhist cave temple located within the woods of Wilpattu National Park in Puttalam District, Sri Lanka. History The history of this site is dated back to the beginning of the Chritian era. A cave inscription belonging to the 1st century A.D. records Kadahalaka tank, the breached tank near the present ruined site (Nicholas, 1963). According to Nicholas, a 10th century pillar inscription containing an immunity grant was found at Patti eliya, a site located few miles north of Galga Viharaya and an abandoned road still leads to these two sites from Thala Vila Wildlife Bungalow (Goonatilake, 2006; IUCN, 2006; Nicholas, 1963). Period: 1st century A.D. Script: Later Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala Transcription: (1) Sidam [|*] Kadahalaka-vavi-hamika vohara- (2) Nakaha Anulayaha (3) manikara .......... tini-jhanana lene Translation: Hail! The cave of the three personages, (namely) the lawyer Naga, the lord of …
