අලවල පුරාණ පොත්ගුල් ලෙන් රජමහා විහාරය

Alawala Caves

Useful Information

Location:	Alawala village, Gampaha district. (7.131126, 80.192535)
Open:	no restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Rock Shelter Painted Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Jinadasa Katupotha, Aravinda Sumanarathna (2020): Geotourism And Geoheritage Potentials: Vistas And Unique Opportunities Of Sri Lanka WILDLANKA Vol.8, No.2, pp. 50-100, 2020. researchgate
Address:	Alawala Caves.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

අලවල පුරාණ පොත්ගුල් (alavala purāṇa potgul, Alawala Caves) is a prehistoric site which was excavated by the Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology (PGIAR) from the University of Kelaniya. The full name is අලවල පුරාණ පොත්ගුල් ලෙන් රජමහා විහාරය (Alawala Pothgul Len Rajamaha Viharaya). The cave is called Pothgul Kanda (Cave of Books) by the locals, because it was once used by monks who left inscriptions in the cave. There are actually three caves, or better shelters, Vihara Lena, Potgul Lena, and Thapo Lena, which is the reason why the name is plural. Vihara Lena contains a large reclining Buddha statue.