Dimbulagala Pulligoda Galge Frescoes
- Discover the hidden rock-cave paintings of Pulligoda Galge, where ancient monks once meditated in complete serenity.
- Marvel at the beautifully preserved frescoes depicting graceful figures, believed to be celestial beings or royal devotees.
- These paintings, over a thousand years old, showcase a unique artistic style found only in Sri Lanka's monastic forest heritage.
- The peaceful forest setting of Dimbulagala adds a sense of mystery and sacred stillness to the entire experience.
- Visiting Pulligoda Galge offers a rare glimpse into the spiritual life, devotion, and artistic mastery of Sri Lanka's ancient civilization.
- The Pulligoda Galge frescoes date back to the 7th–8th century CE and are among Sri Lanka's earliest surviving examples of Buddhist mural paintings.
- The site is a small rock cave on the Dimbulagala mountain range, beautifully hidden amid forested hills east of Polonnaruwa.
- The frescoes portray five seated monks, possibly Arahants, in meditation — a rare and serene representation of early Buddhist monastic life.
- The paintings show a transition between Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa art styles, combining spiritual simplicity with refined technique.
- Artists used mineral and plant-based pigments, which have remarkably survived more than 1,200 years in the cave's sheltered rock surface.
- The central figure is believed to represent the Buddha or an enlightened monk, radiating peace and introspection.
- Ancient Brahmi and later Sinhala inscriptions found near the site suggest it was once part of a larger monastic complex.
- Dimbulagala has long been a center of Buddhist scholarship and meditation, with Pulligoda serving as a retreat for monks seeking solitude.
- Few frescoes of this kind remain in Sri Lanka, making Pulligoda Galge an invaluable link to the island's ancient artistic and religious traditions..