An Ancient Cave Hermitage

The story of Gallengolla begins long before the current buildings stand. In the backyard of the three-storied image house, a drip-ledged cave carries an early Brahmi inscription—one of the oldest written records in Sri Lanka—placing monastic activity here between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st century CE. The distinctive horizontal groove cut along the rock's overhang is the hallmark of an Anuradhapura-era hermitage: designed to channel rainwater away from the cave mouth so monks could meditate within without the floor flooding.↗

Several additional drip-ledged caves dot the temple premises, some retaining faded remnants of old paintings on their inner surfaces. One cave contains a tunnel that runs to an unknown destination—a mystery that has long sparked local curiosity. These rock shelters, scattered across the property, speak to centuries of forest-dwelling monastics who chose this elevated ground for its seclusion and natural protection.↗

The Three-Storied Image House

The most prominent structure at Gallengolla is its three-storied image house, completed in 1874 (2418 B.E.) under the direction of Veligamuwe Buddhadasa Atthadassi Thera, the 19th-century monk credited with founding the modern temple. The building blends traditional Kandyan craftsmanship with colonial-era architectural touches visible in its proportions and window arrangements.↗

The ground floor hall is richly adorned with paintings in the Kandyan style—figures and scenes rendered in natural pigments against earthen walls. At the entrance, a carved stone door frame displays floral motifs, and a large wooden cabinet called a Pettagama once held precious ola-leaf manuscripts. Above, the second floor serves as a relic house, reachable by a wooden staircase; its murals and sculptures were added in 1915 and display a later, transitional phase of Kandyan art.↗

Chapter House and Stupa

West of the image house stands the Pohoya Geya (Chapter House), considered one of the oldest constructions in Sri Lanka's Central Province. For centuries, this hall would have hosted the sangha's quarterly recitation of the monastic code, and its very presence confirms that Gallengolla was never merely a hermitage but a full-fledged monastery.↗

The temple stupa is architecturally notable: its Pesa Walalu (the square terraces at the dome's base) and other structural elements are constructed from precisely fitted stone slabs rather than the brick-and-plaster method common to many Kandyan-era stupas. This construction choice gives the monument a crisp, enduring profile.↗

The Ramanna Nikaya Connection

Gallengolla's historical significance extends beyond its architecture. Veligamuwe Buddhadasa Atthadassi Thera, the temple's 19th-century founder, was the head of forest-dwelling monks across Sri Lanka's North-Central, North-West, and Central Provinces. He was also a key leader of the Ramanna Nikaya—the monastic order that traces its lineage to ordinations received in Burma.↗

In 1867, a higher ordination ceremony (upasampada) of the Ramanna Nikaya was held at Gallengolla, establishing the temple as one of the principal centers of this sect in the Central Province. This connection elevated Gallengolla from a local village temple to a node in the national network of Theravada Buddhist transmission.↗

A Protected Heritage Site

The Sri Lanka Department of Archaeology recognized the exceptional value of Gallengolla's collection by declaring its drip-ledged caves, three-storied image house, stupa, Dhamma Sala (preaching hall), and ancient flight of steps as protected archaeological monuments through a government gazette notification published on 27 July 2009. This status acknowledges the site's multi-layered significance spanning two millennia of continuous Buddhist use.↗

Visiting Gallengolla Rajamaha Viharaya

Gallengolla sits in a quiet, hilly setting along the B121 road near Kovilakanda, about 4.5 km from Pilimathalawa town in Kandy District. The approach winds through the undulating countryside typical of the lower Kandyan plateau—tea gardens, rubber plots, and small rice paddies giving way to forested ridgelines.↗↗↗

The temple grounds include restroom facilities. As an active place of worship, visitors should dress modestly, remove footwear before entering shrine halls, and maintain a respectful silence during prayer or meditation sessions. The site draws local devotees especially on Poya (full moon) days. With a 4.7-star rating from visitors, Gallengolla consistently earns appreciation for its peaceful atmosphere and remarkable historical depth.↗