Hanguranketha Ambalama is an ancient wayside shelter built for the use of wary travellers over 150 years ago and lies in Hanguranketha between the Pothgul Rajamaha Viharaya and the Hanguranketha Vishnu Devalaya. This building is comparatively large containing 2 rooms in addition to the open area.
It is believed that this Ambalama was built for wary businessmen to rest and the rooms were for locking up goods they carry. It may be also possible that this Ambalama was built for the use of the pilgrims to Devalaya and Pothgul Viharaya Temple.
The Ambalama is primarily made out of granite and the roof carries a complex shape today it is tiled with clay Calicut tiles (rata ulu). The ambalama lacks any artistic decorations. The short wall around the open area is made out of large rectangular granite blocks. Granite pillars carry the roof of the building. These pillars are square at the top and the bottom and the center area is octagonal.
In front of the ambalama lies a pinthaliya ( water container kept for the traveller) made out of a granite block. A plaque informs that this was donated in 1905 by a Salu Abhaya Gunasekara in memory of his parents.
Hanguranketha lies about 32 km from Kandy town on the Haragama road.
Also See
- List of Ambalama’s in Sri Lanka
- Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
- Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity
Map of Hanguranketha Ambalama
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Travel Directions to Hanguranketha Ambalama
Route from Kandy to Hanguranketha Ambalama |
distance :32 km Travel time : 1 hours Time to Spent : 30 mins Driving directions : see on google map |