Ruins of Kalthota Budugala Rajamaha Viharaya

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(14 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)

Ruins of Budugala Monastery
Photo by Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Budugala, meaning “Buddha’s Rock,” is an ancient monastic complex located in Kaltota, within the Ratnapura District. Based on inscriptions discovered in the caves, the site is believed to date back to at least the 2nd century BCE (Gnanawimala Thero, 1967, pp. 270–271).

Budugala may once have been an integral part of the Kuragala Monastery. Drip-pledged caves bearing inscriptions are scattered across both hills, and these inscriptions predominantly document donations made to the Maha Sangha. Unfortunately, none of the inscriptions mention the monastery’s original name.

The ruins of Budugala were first documented by C. H. Collins in 1932. The site lies near the present terminus of the Kaltota Irrigation Channel, approximately two miles from Kaltota. It comprises a rock cave situated close to the channel and a series of structures, including buildings and stairways, located about half a mile from the cave and accessible via a designated path (Collins, 1932).

The existing ruins are distributed along an east-west axis and can be broadly categorized into three groups:

Lower Group – This section includes conserved foundations of two double platform buildings (Padhanagara), a moonstone, a toilet stone slab, a Bodhi tree, and the remains of a stupa built on a natural rock formation.
Stone Steps – Features a finely carved balustrade (korawak gala) and a stone handrail that connects the lower and upper groups.
Upper Group – Comprises of a double platform structure (Padhanagara), a “Laughing Lion” sculpture, a padoni (foot-washing vessel), a “Leaping Lion,” and a natural rock slab engraved with a Gemini image, accompanied by a trident and a swastika at the opposite end.

Additionally, numerous other ruins are scattered across the mountain top.

A Padhanaghara consists of two simple buildings constructed on raised platforms, connected by a bridge made of granite slabs. Typically, a moat surrounds these structures, possibly serving to cool the buildings and provide protection from wild animals, as these monasteries were often built in forested areas.

One distinctive characteristic of Padhanaghara complexes is the absence of elaborate granite carvings. Unlike temples located within cities, these structures lack ornate balustrades, moonstones, or decorative elements, reflecting their functional and meditative purpose rather than a focus on artistic embellishment.

Delicate Carvings on the moonstone at the lower level in Budugala

A set of figurines found in the lower ruins at Budugala .

The lower level double platforms (Padhanagara) are built of larger oblonged dressed stone blocks with perfect joints. There are few stone pillar stumps indicate that that these buildings had roofs built over them. They were probably made of timber and nothing remains of them. However there are pieces roof tiles scattered all over the area.

Collins (1932) documented a moonstone with unique carvings on the southern side of the lower platform. This rectangular stone slab was later relocated to one of the Padhanagaras (Structure 2) following conservation efforts.

The moonstone features intricate low-relief designs, depicting lotus flowers, stems, and buds. Unfortunately, the slab has been damaged by treasure hunters (Binaragama, 2006). Additionally, other lower ruins in the area exhibit unusual figurines, as seen in the accompanying images.

From the lower level, a carefully cut stone staircase ascends to the upper terrace of Budugala hill. This staircase includes a carved guard stone and a stone handrail, resembling the granite stairs at Ritigala.

Trace of a lion with a trunk of a elephant carved on a natural rock at Budugala

Trace of a woman and a man and few other symbols on the same rock surface as the previous at Budugala

This site features the best-preserved Padhanagara, which is more finely constructed and ornamented than the others. The two raised platforms are connected by a bridge with steps on both sides. The western platform includes a built-in flight of steps but appears to have never been roofed.

The eastern platform, on the other hand, has pillar stumps, indicating it once had a tiled roof, as evidenced by the ancient tile fragments scattered nearby.

Around this structure, there are two toilet stone slabs, with another located deeper in the jungle. Additionally, a stone slab in the nearby forest features low-relief carvings that may depict a fishing scene, showing two men, a fish on a line, a trident, and other symbols.

In addition to the three conserved Padhanagara structures, Binaragama (2006) also reported the discovery of three more ruined Padhanagara and a stupa, hidden within the surrounding jungle.

Plan of the Budugala Ruins source : කූරගල ගවේෂණය 2014 – අදියර 1

Stupa at the top of the Budugala Monastery

View of Kuragala from top of Budugala Monastery

Ancient plaster on the rock wall at Budugala Monastery

Photos courtesy of : Dr Ashan Geeganage

References

Binaragama, D. (2006). සබරගමුව පැරණි රජදහන (මාද්‍ය වලව නිම්නය) මහ බින්තැන්න (1st ed.). S Godage & Brothers Private Ltd.
Collins, C. H. (1932). THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE SABARAGAMUWA BINTENNA. The Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland, 32(85), 158–184.
Gnanawimala Thero, K. (1942). සපරගමුවේ පැරණි ලියවිලි. Ginalankara Press.
Gnanawimala Thero, K. (1967). සපරගමු දර්ශන. Shastrodaya Printing Press.
Somadeva, R., Wanninayake, A., & Devage, D. (2015). කූරගල ගවේෂණය 2014 – අදියර 1. In පුරාවිද් යා පස්චාත් උපාධි ආයතනයේ මතක සටහන්. Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology.

Also See

Map of Budugala Monastery

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

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.

Traveling Directions to Budugala Monastery

Route from Colombo to Budugala Monastery	Route from Timbolketiya-Tanamalwila Rd to Budugala Monastery
Through : Awissawella – Ratnapura – Balangoda distance : 175 km Travel time : 4.5 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through : Balaharuwa Road distance : 42 km Travel time : 1. hours Driving directions : see on Google map