Karagahagedara Ambalama

Karagahagedara Ambalama

Karagahagedara Ambalama (Sinhala: කරගහගෙදර අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Karagahagedara village in Kurunegala 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. Constructed in 1837, the Karagahagedara Ambalama has architectural features of the Kandyan Period (Dasanayaka, 2018; De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). It was restored in 1980 by the Department of Archaeology (Uduwara, 1990). The Structure The Ambalama has been built on a flat rock outcrop near a paddy field. The wooden framework of it has been constructed on four round boulders, placed at the four corners. Four timber logs that are balanced on the four-round boulders, make the base of the wooden framework. The roof is supported b…