Mangalagama is an ancient village in Sri Lanka located in the Rambukkana Division in the Kegale District. It is situated on the Colombo – Kandy road 85 km away from Colombo. Mangalagama is known for 2 landmarks, one is the historic Bodhimalakaramaya Viharaya and the other is the Mangalagama Ambalama which lies right next to the road.
According to legend, an Indian Brahmin carrying a sapling of the Ananda Bodhi of India on a pilgrimage and travelling to Kandy broke rest at the Ambalama in this village. He had left the sapling on a nearby rock and slept at the Ambalama. The next day morning he was ready to move again and tried to lift the sapling but found it had taken root on the rock. Deciding that the sapling was destined to be planted at this location, he has stayed back at this village nurturing the plant.
The Kandyan king hearing about this event had built a temple around the Bo Tree and granted him the village surrounding it. Since the name of this Brahmin was Mangala, the village became known as Mangalagama.
The Ambalama you see today was rebuilt in 1970 by the Department of Archaeology. By that time only one wooden pillar with a cap and 8 granite pillars had been remaining of the building. The new building had been reconstructed with an additional 8 concrete pillars shaped similar to the ancient granite pillars and wooden pillars carved based on the original remaining pillar.
Also See
- List of Ambalama’s in Sri Lanka
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Mangalagama Ambalama
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Travel Directions to Mangalagama Ambalama
Route from Colombo to Mangalagama Ambalama |
distance :85 km Travel time : 2.5 hour Time to Spent : 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |