Kahaththewela Ambalama

Photo credit: Google street view

The Kahaththewela Ambalama is an old wayside rest situated in Bandarawela in Badulla 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 structure

The Kahaththewela Ambalama is a square-shaped building made of brick and mortar. It is said that there was a Pinthaliya (a water vessel for the use of people) in front of this Ambalama with the date 1927 (Dasanayaka, 2018).

A protected monument

The Kahaththewela ancient Ambalama situated in Grama Niladhari Division, Kahaththewela in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Bandarawela is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 24 March 2016.

References

1) Dasanayaka, R., 2018. Ambalama saha samajaya (In Sinhala). S. Godage & Brothers.  pp.115-116.

2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1960. 24 March 2016. p.228.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 2 January 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map