Galapitagala Cave
8.083300,80.666700
Description
A monastic cave of unspecified nature, character, and dimensions contains rock art (epigraphy) represented by a votive inscription (McALPINE & ROBSON 1983: 355). ETYMOLOGY: The Sinhala -galapitagala- means rock-upon-rock and derives from the large boulders surmounting each other along the Galapitagala tank (McALPINE & ROBSON 1983: 355). SITUATION: On the approach to the –>Ritigala complex of ruins and caves and somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Galapitagala (N08°05': E080°40' nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003), which lies at a travelling distance of eight miles (about 11 km) along the highway A11 from Habarana (N08°03': E080°46') generally north-west via Maradankadawela (N08°08': E080°34') to Anuradhapura (N08°21': E080°23').
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1893, circa: H.C.P. Bell, a former Archaeological Commissioner, discovered more than 32 caves in the range (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 250; 1983: 252), as … it was left to H.C.P. Bell, the indomitable Archaeological Commissioner, to give the first extensive account of Ritigala in 1893. He explored the ruins and described them in great archaeological detail with supporting plans and drawings. They remain today the only accurate maps of the monastery precincts and cave complexes (McALPINE & ROBSON 1983: 359).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.6 | NA-MALUWA CAVE, Ritigala | ||
| 2.6 | NA-ULPOTA CAVE, Ritigala | ||
| 2.6 | ANIYAKANDA CAVE, Ritigala | ||
| 2.6 | RITIGALA TUNNEL | ||
| 17.0 | PIDURAGALA CAVE no. 1 | ||
| 17.0 | PIDURAGALA CAVE no. 2 | ||
| 17.1 | POTANA SHELTER | ||
| 17.4 | SIGIRIYA ROCK SHELTER | ||
| 17.4 | Aligala Galge |