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photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage
Budugallena is an ancient monastery complex lying deep inside the jungle of Rahathungala mountain range near Buttala. This complex has been called Konketiya Viharaya in the past but had been abandoned with people migrating elsewhere. In the 1970’s parts of this massive complex has been cleared and some caves have been used for meditation by priests. With this turnaround, this site was known as the Budugallena Aranya Senasanaya.
Budugallena Monastery or the Konketiya Viharaya has a history going back to per-christian times. According to legend this complex was developed by a son of Theraputtabaya who was one of the generals of king Kawanthissa (205–161 BC). According to the head priest, Konketiya Viharaya had spread across hundreds of acres in the Rahuthungala mountain range. 62 drip ledged caves have been identified of this complex and just a few of these caves are now being used. About 14 rock inscriptions belonging to pre Christian era have been discovered in the caves mostly describing donation of the cave to the priesthood.
Inside one cave temple you will come across number of limestone caved Buddha statues damaged at various places, guard stones, and 2 other statues. One statue with the head shows close resemblance to the Dutugemunu statue at the Ruvanweliseya and it believed this statue to be of king Dutugemunu. The other staue is believed to be of king Saddhasissa, brother of Dutugemunu. But historians believe that these statues might be of Avalokiteshvara and Maitree Bodhisattva’s.
Also See
Map of Buttala Budugallena Forest Monastery
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Traveling Directions to Buttala Budugallena Forest Monastery
Route from Kataragama to Buttala Budugallena Forest Monastery |
| Through : Buttala Road Distance : 45 km Travel time : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map |
