Alpitiya Sri Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya

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Alpitiya Sri Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya Archaeological Ruins

The little-known temple presently referred to as Sri Bodhimalu Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is nestled in Alpitiya, within the Madulla Divisional Secretariat of the Monaragala District. Situated approximately 18 kilometers from Monaragala town, the temple shares topographical similarities with other ancient sites in Lower Uva, particularly with its elevated terrain and presence of rock shelters.

The Cave Shrine

A prominent hill dominates the landscape, crowned by a large cave with a drip ledge halfway up its rocky incline. This cave, evidently used for monastic residence in antiquity, was eventually converted into a shrine. Later constructions have obscured many of the original elements, with a more modern shrine now standing atop the older remains.

Access to the cave is gained via a 60-meter-long stone stairway. The cave itself measures 12 meters in length and 7.75 meters in depth. Its height near the entrance is around 1.7 meters. Of particular note is a unique inscription found on the cave’s ceiling to the left of the entrance. Spanning 142 centimeters, the text is written in a single line using characters approximately 3.8 centimeters in height and width. Strikingly, the letters are inscribed upside down—a rare and puzzling feature.

Ruins at the Base of the Hill

Before one ascends the rock to reach the cave, the first significant archaeological feature encountered is the ruin of an ancient stupa. While most of its structure has eroded, the square platform at its base remains. Measuring 14 meters per side, it is marked by four stone pillars, each rising about 122 centimeters above ground. At the entrance to this square are two stone pillars—1.5 meters high on the right and 1.37 meters on the left—spaced 1.12 meters apart.

Leading into the square is a moonstone, unadorned and hewn from an 18-centimeter-high slab of stone. The semicircular moonstone has a diameter of 1 meter and aligns with the traditional placement in front of sacred Buddhist structures. The ruined stupa, once more imposing, stood at a height of approximately 5.8 meters, with a base width of 2.26 meters in 1985. However, the height has reduced significantly today.

To the left of the stupa stands a venerable Bodhi tree, likely a silent witness to centuries of religious activity. The ascent to the cave, beginning from the Bodhi tree terrace, offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside that reward the effort of the climb.

Veddige Galge: The Cave of the Vedda Woman

Another significant feature is located on the slope to the left of the temple: a spacious natural cave formed by a massive stone slab leaning against another upright rock. Known locally as Veddige Galge, or “the cave of the Vedda woman,” oral tradition holds that a female Vedda once lived in this shelter when the area was still wilderness.

This cave measures 14.6 meters in length with an interior width of 5.8 meters and a height of about 2.5 meters. An ancient inscription, though partially eroded, remains on the interior stone surface. Approximately 23 letters are discernible, with the word Lene (a term for a monastic cave) clearly legible, dating the inscription tentatively to the 3rd century CE.

Modern Structures and Discoveries

Within the temple grounds stands a partially ruined pavilion constructed in 1910. This modern addition contrasts with the site’s more ancient features but adds to its layered history. Coins from the Dutch and British colonial periods have been unearthed in the vicinity, suggesting continued occupation or visitation across multiple historical eras.

References

Sumanasekara Banda, S. J. (1986). ඌවේ දායාද (1st ed.). Sarvodaya Vishwa Lekha.

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