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The Galkona Ambalama (Sinhala: ගල්කොණ අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Udunuwara in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.
Ambalama
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. As per the belief of locals, the Galkona Ambalama has been constructed during the reign of King Buvanekabahu IV [(1341-1351 A.D.) Rajapakse, 2016]. However, as inscribed on the main rafter of the roof of this structure, this Ambalama has been built in 1928 by a person named Seneviratna (Dasanayaka, 2018). It is said that there was an ancient wooden Ambalama at this place before the construction of the present structure in 1928 (Dasanayaka, 2018).
The structure
The Galkona Ambalama is a quadrangle building of about 12.4 ft. long and 11.9 ft. wide (Rajapakse, 2016). The four large pillars at the corners are made out of stone blocks. By connecting these pillars, a short wall prepared for sitting runs around it. However, the heights of this wall differ in each direction and this is probably due to the caste differences that prevailed in the society at the time of its construction. The four-sided roof with an elevated middle portion is paved with flat clay tiles (Pethi Ulu).
References
1) Dasanayaka, R., 2018. Ambalama saha samajaya (In Sinhala). S. Godage & Brothers. p.106.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. pp.71-72.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. pp.71-72.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 27 August 2022
