Ruins of Budu Galge at Horombuwa

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Budu Galge Archaeological Site at Horombuwa

About two and a half miles off the Monaragala–Buttala road lies the village of Horombuwa. In 1986, S. J. Sumanasekara Banda documented an overlooked archaeological site near this village, buried deep within a small mountain range at its edge. Even today, the area remains cloaked in forest and mystery, with only a few locals preserving age-old customs and knowledge of the site.

Among the many Buddhist ruins hidden within the dense vegetation, one of the most impressive is a site known as Budu Galge. This ancient rock shelter features a massive cave with two drip ledges (kataram) carved one below the other—an unusual feature in cave architecture. To reach this cave, visitors must ascend a flight of stone steps stretching about 150 feet.

The cave’s entrance spans 38 feet in width, and its doorway rises to a height of 16 feet. The depth of the cave extends 64 feet. Inside, a severely damaged Buddha statue made of brick lies enshrined. The statue measures 34 feet in length, with shoulders spanning 7 feet. The feet alone are 4 feet tall, with the soles measuring about 5 feet 6 inches in length. One of the bricks used in constructing the statue was recorded as being 1 foot 4 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 3 inches high.

Nearby, another cave can be found, measuring 41 feet in width and 40 feet in depth. The drip ledge here is located 10 feet 6 inches above the entrance. Within this cave is a small image house, approximately 25 feet long and 22 feet wide.

Scattered across the sloped terrain near this cave are several stone pillars, likely remnants of an ancient building. One upright pillar measures 5 feet 6 inches in height, 1 foot 6 inches in width, and 1 foot in thickness. The space between two standing pillars is about 7 feet 6 inches. A fallen pillar nearby measures 7 feet in length. A series of stone steps provides access to the area, and a substantial stone retaining wall has been constructed to support the structure on the steep slope. Due to years of forest overgrowth, it was difficult to determine the full extent or original form of this wall.

At the base of the mountain lies a natural spring, which most likely served as the water source for the temple’s ancient inhabitants. Given the scope of visible remains, it is highly probable that many more ruins lie buried beneath the surrounding forest cover.

On June 6, 2008, the Department of Archaeology officially designated all drip-ledged caves with inscriptions, the ancient Buddha shrine, the flight of steps, and the site of ruins with stone pillars belonging to Budugalge Purana Viharaya in Holombuwa as a protected archaeological site.

Please note that the location shown on Google Maps is only an approximation. If you plan to visit, it is highly recommended to enlist the help of a local guide from Horombuwa to navigate the site safely and accurately.

References

Abeywardena, M. Y. (2008). Government Notifications -the Antiquities Ordinance. The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, No. 1553 (Friday, June 06, 2009), 522–534.
Sumanasekara Banda, S. J. (1986). ඌවේ දායාද (1st ed.). Sarvodaya Vishwa Lekha.

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Map of Horombuwa Budu Galge Archaeological Ruins

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