Daulagala Ambalama (Sinhala: දවුලගල අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest in the village of Daulagala in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.
History
Ambalamas are traditional resting places built by locals to accommodate
wayfarers who were travelling to distant places. They were also used as a
place for people to gather, hold meetings and serve as a public place
in society. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Ambalamas were
spread all over the country. The Ambalama located in Daulagala is said to have been constructed in 1914 by a person named Nugawela Manamperi Chandrasekara Wasala Mudalilage Kuda Bandara Diyawadana Nilame (Abeywardana, 2004; Rajapakse, 2016).
The structure
The Ambalama has been constructed by erecting four granite pillars fixed to a foundation. The roof is paved with Kandyan Period clay tiles and supported by the four granite pillars. Several decorations are found carved on the wooden rafters.
A protected monument
The Daulagala Ambalama (Maha. 646 Mulika Pimbura lot number 1: consist of 0 acres, 0 roods, 11.25 perches) situated in Davulagala village in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Udunuwara is an archaeological reserve, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 30 August 1974.
References
1) Abeywardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Kandurata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.85.2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. p. 66.
3) The government gazette notification. No: 127. 30 August 1974.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 8 April 2023
