Bogahawatta Ambalama

Photo credit: Google street view

The Bogahawatta Ambalama is an old wayside rest situated in Kirindiwela in Gampaha 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 at Bogahawatta is one such building that is believed to be more than one hundred years old.

The structure

The rectangular-shaped Ambalama is relatively small and consists of a single open space surrounded by a short wall. The four-sided roof which is held by ten stone pillars has been tiled with calicut clay tiles (Rata Ulu).

A protected monument

The pilgrims rest situated in the village of Bogahawatta in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 385 Kirindiwela, in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Dompe-weke, is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 6 February 2009.

References

1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1588. 6 February 2009. p.182.

Location Map

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