The road to Ritigala. There are several peaks in this mountain range which rises abruptly 2000 feet from the surrounding forest region
RITIGALA FOREST MONASTERY
Galapitigala (off the Habarana Road)
Now an archaeological site covering about 700 acres, the Ritigala Forest Monastery lies in a strict natural reserve. The site is very old, so old in fact that its history is now virtually indistinguishable from its many stories, myths and legends.
Numerous theories have been advanced as to the exact purposes of the monastery buildings, the ruins of which still remain scattered across the site, but they remain mostly speculative. The forest is said to have been used by hermits since the 3rd century BC, perhaps even earlier. Around the 9th century it was occupied by the extremely ascetic ‘pamsukulika’ monks for whom the now ruined monastery was built by Sena 1 (835–851 AD).
The entrance to the monastery is a long stone paved ‘street’ with steps leading through the forest, passing a series of ‘roundabouts’ or cleared circular spaces on the way up, which were perhaps used for walking meditation. The stones are precisely cut and fitted, like some ancient Roman road. The ruins include double-platforms raised on big slabbed stone walls connected by small stone bridges and an old stone tank or bathing place. Further up one arrives at where the monastery itself once stood.
Beyond, a steep path leads up through the thick forest to a series of rock caves that are still used by the hermits and monks who live in the area.
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The road through the forest
A small, colourful Ganesh sits in the cleft of a branch, guarding the entrance
The sign quotes a Buddhist saying about the value of a living forest
The clean-cut, stone steps
The steps lead one on and upwards...
Onward and upwards...
The road leads on through the dense forest
The circular walk - perhaps used for walking meditations...
A long, long road....
Remains of the ruined buildings
Remains of the ruined buildings...some platforms and stairways are nearly perfectly preserved
The platforms are connected by small stone bridges
The outlines of the buildings can still be seen
A long view of the site
A detail showing the neatly fitted stones of the walls
Further up through this forest there are a series of rock caves still used by the hermits and monks who live in the area
