Bandara Kandura Ambalama (Sinhala: බණ්ඩර කඳුර අම්බලම) is an old resting house situated on the wayside of Medipokuna road, about 1 km distance from the Bambarapana junction on the Welimada-Udapussellawa road in Badulla District, Sri Lanka.
History
Ambalamas are traditional resting places built by locals to provide shelter for travellers journeying to far-off destinations. They also served as communal hubs for gatherings, meetings, and public interactions. During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Ambalamas were spread all over the country. As engraved in Sinhala on the left of the two stone posts at the entrance, the Bandara Kandura Ambalama was built in 2464 B.E (1920 A.D.). The record also contains the name of the person who built the Ambalama.
The Structure
This small Ambalama building is rectangular in shape and its gable roof is held by the stone pillars at the four corners. Connecting these pillars, a short wall runs around the structure while keeping a narrow entrance for visitors. Three benches are seen its three sides, with the bench along the rear wall positioned at a slightly elevated level compared to those on the sides. The roof is covered with semi-circular clay tiles (Sinhala Ulu). Adjacent to the Ambalama is a water tank for the usage of the travellers.
Attribution
#) LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Lalith Kekulthotuwage for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
