Yatiwawala Ambalama (Photo credit: Google Street View)
Yatiwawala Ambalama (Sinhala: යටිවාවල අම්බලම) is an old wayside rest situated in Yatiwawala village 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.
The Ambalama at Yatiwawala is believed to be one such structure constructed in the past for the convenience of people who travelled between Kurunegala and Kandy.
The structure
The Yatiwawala Ambalama is a simple square-shaped structure built using brick and mortar. The four pillars at the corners hold the weight of the roof which is covered with semi-circular clay tiles (Sinhala Ulu). Connecting the four pillars, a short wall, prepared as seats, runs around the perimeter of the structure. The height of this short wall differs in each direction and this is probably due to the caste differences that prevailed in the society at the time of its construction.
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This page was last updated on 30 April 2023
