Heritage

Lunugamvehera Galge Ruins (ගල්ගේ නටබුන්)

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Galge Caves
photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Galge is an area between Sella Kataragama and Buttala along the road connecting the two. At the turn towards the Lunugamvehera National Park at Galge which is approximately 17 km from Kataragama and 27 kilometres from Buttala lies a rocky outcrop consisting of ancient drip ledge caves which probably had been part of a larger Buddhist monastery.

On the top of this rock lies a monument built in cement which reads

“In Memory of J.P. Ireson, Born 3rd April 1877 – Died 12th November 1923, Founder of the Galge Country, and a true British Sportsman, Erected by his friends – RIP”

J.P. Ireson was not in fact a sportsman by any civilised definition other than of the British who used the term to glorify the trophy hunters who would shoot and kill most majestic animals just to own its head.

J.P. Ireson was a British superintendent of some plantations in Monaragala District. Harry Storey who writes about his hunting experiences with Ireson states “….. Ireson’s trophies filled me with envy, for he had a fine series of heads from 30 inches up to 33 ½ inches – such as I had rarely seen in my North Central Province Country, though common enough in the Southern Province……….”

As fate demands Ireson has died in an elephant attack and this monument had been built by his friends on this rock. This monument had been about 40 feet high initially but had been damaged by lightning every time it had been rebuilt by the British High Commission in Sri Lanka. Finally, they had reduced the height to about 20 feet which you see today.

Tomb of J.P. Ireson at the Galge Junction

Natural pool at the top of the rock at Galge

View from the rock where the Tomb of J.P. Ireson at the lies

Path to the Tomb of J.P. Ireson at the Galge Junction

Also See

Map of Galge Ruins

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Travel Directions to Galge Ruins

Route from Kataragama to Galge Ruins	Route from Buttala to Galge Ruins
Through : Kataragama – Buttala Road Distance : 17 km Travel time : 25 minutes Driving directions : see on Google map	Through : Kataragama – Buttala Road Distance : 28 kilometers Travel time : 30 minutes Driving directions : see on Google map

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Also See

Map of Galge Ruins

Travel Directions to Galge Ruins

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