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Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins (හම්බන්තොට දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ ගලපිටගල බොදු නටබුන්)

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Galapitagala is a small hillock situated in Beralihela area between Lunugamvehera and Kataragama in Hambantota District. On the south-western slope, there is a cave with some signs of human habitation. In the space inside the cave, two rubble walls can be seen. The cave roof would have been plastered in the beginning of its use in the historical period.

A drip-ledge is clearly visible in the front in the cave roof. The ruined rubble wall cannot be dated precisely but it can be assumed that it belonged to a later stage of the historical period. However the drip-ledge very clearly indicates that the Buddhist monks had used this cave during the last three centuries of the first millennium BCE. On the summit, a heap of ancient bricks was observed. It is understood that those bricks are the remains of a small stupa.

At the foot of the Galapitagala hill lies another natural cave called Alugalge with a drip ledge which is been occupied by buddhist monks. The inside space of the cave has been considerably modified in the modern times.

References

Somadeva, R., 2006. URBAN ORIGINS IN SOUTHERN SRI LANKA. Doctoral Thesis in Archaeology. Uppsala University.

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Map of Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins

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Travel Directions to Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins

Route from Tissamaharama to Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins

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References

Also See

Map of Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins

Travel Directions to Hambantota Galapitagala Buddhist Ruins

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