Molahitiya Velegala Archaeological Site

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Molahitiya Velegala is an elongated rocky formation located in Kuda Ulpatha village in Dimbulagala, within the Nuwarakalaviya region. Situated about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) from Kuda Ulpatha, it consists of a low rock landscape marked by three or four narrow ridges running east to west, parallel to the Dimbulagala rock.

The surface of the rock is scattered with small boulders and fragments, giving it the appearance of a massive fortress.
According to Bell’s observations from 1897, this outcrop once served as a major ancient stone quarry. Evidence of quarrying is still visible in the form of wedged stones, as well as deep and shallow longitudinal grooves carved into the bedrock for splitting rock. Numerous small piles of stone debris also remain across the site.

Ancient Ruins

Bell notes that many statues and other stone structures of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom were likely produced using stone extracted from this very outcrop. From here, the towering Rankot Vehera of Polonnaruwa can be clearly seen rising above the surrounding forest canopy.

Near the center of the main ridge are the remains of several ancient structures. Among them are the ruins of a stupa and the plinth stones of a small octagonal building that faces south. The tops of these stones contain lotus-boss mortices, indicating where wooden pillars would once have been fixed. This image house measured approximately 2.4 meters (8 feet) on each side. Inside the structure, archaeologists have found two granite slabs used as flower altars—one square and the other rectangular.

At a higher level along the crest of the middle ridge are two long, parallel grooves cut into the rock, each extending for more than 18 meters (approximately 20 yards). These grooves end at four inscriptions. Two of the records, carved closely together on the rock surface in four lines within an oblong frame, are particularly well incised, with characters that are both deep and boldly formed. A swastika symbol appears before inscriptions numbered 1 and 2. All four inscriptions date to the early centuries of the Common Era.

At the base of this ridge are four to five caves, three of which contain drip ledges, indicating their use by ancient monks. The largest drip-ledge cave measures approximately 18 meters (60 feet) in width, 6 meters (20 feet) in height, and 8 meters (27 feet) in depth and was once used as a vihara. Within it are pillar bases, a flower altar measuring about 0.6 meters (2 feet) square, and bricks. Bell (1917) also notes traces of an ancient terrace in front of the cave.

Inscriptions

Oldest Inscription of Molahitiya Ruins in Dimbulagala

Of the 4 inscriptions published by Bell, the oldest is number 4. It records gifts made to the ancient monastery by the chief queen of King Kutakanna Tissa (20 BCE-9 CE). This reads:

Success! The reservoir of Dubalagama (is the property of the Community of Bhikkhus. A karisa each at Nakavili and Lodori (are the property) of the Community of Bhikkhus. The reservoir of Pidavika (is the property) of the Community of Bhikkhus. The senior wife of King Kutakanna, queen Anula, gave these to the Community of bhikkhus in the monastery of……Pilipavata (Paranavitana, 1983)

This site, known as Molahitiya Welegala with drip-ledged caves, rock inscriptions, and a monument complex in Millana Village in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 212 of Millana in the Dimbulagala Divisional Secretary’s Division in the Polonnaruwa District, North Central Province, was declared as an protected archeological site on 1st February 2023.

References

Vimalananda, T. (no date) The Epigraphy And Paleography Of Ceylon Down To the 10th Century, A.D. thesis.
Bell, H.C.P. (1917) ‘Dimbula-gala : Its Caves. Ruins and Inscriptions’, The Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register , III (part 2), pp. 69–792.
Paranavitana, S., Codrington , H.W. and Wickremasinghe , D.M.D.Z. (1933) ‘Two Rock Inscriptions of Bhatika Abhaya and Mahanaga at Molahitiyavelegala’, in Epigraphia Zeylanica Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon | Vol III 1928-1933. London: Humphrey Milford, pp. 153–157.
Paranavitana, S (1983) Inscriptions of Ceylon | Volume II | Part I | Containing Rock and Other Inscriptions | From the Reign of Kutakanna Abhaya (41 B.C.-19 B.C.) to Bhatiya II (140- 164 A.D.) Vol II (part 1). Colombo: Department of Archaeology.
Wikramanayaka, V. (2023) ‘Monuments to be declared as Ancient Monuments’, The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka EXTRAORDINARY, 2317/57, p. 4A.

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Travel Directions to Dimbulagala Molahitiya Velegala Archaeological Site

The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the ancient royal city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through: Central Highway—Kurunegala—Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 230 km Travel Time: 5 hours Driving Directions: See on Google Maps.	Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: See on Google Maps.	Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.