Kamburupitiya Ambalama (කඹුරුපිටිය අම්බලම)

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Ambalama, a roadside sanctuary, was constructed by aristocrats or the affluent to offer travellers a safe refuge from wild animals during ancient times. The intricacy of carvings adorning these shelters reflected the benefactor’s wealth and social stature. Additionally, Ambalama served as communal meeting points for villagers, fostering both formal gatherings and casual interactions within the community.

For the affluent patrons, Ambalama presented an opportunity to showcase their wealth and influence. Lavish structures, often constructed with durable materials and featuring ornate details signalled the benefactor’s esteemed position in society. These rich resting places offered not only physical comfort but also served as symbols of prestige.

Conversely, more modest Ambalama, while lacking in grandeur, were no less significant in their role as havens for weary travellers. More recently Ambalam belonged to this type built with utility in mind as the priority.

Kamburupitiya Ambalama is one such Ambalama built in 1909. This is a comparatively large Ambalama built with Brick and mortar, standing in the centre of the Kamburupitya town. The Ambalama is fully covered. The front is built with a short wall and square and cylindrical pillars the empty space is covered with latticework structures for ventilation. The entrance is on the side. A stone plaque declares that the Ambalama was built by D.C. Wijesinghe Godekande Maha Ralahami in the Buddhist Era 2453 (කඹුරුපිටියේ ඩී. සී. විජේසිංහ ගොඩේකන්දේ මහරාලහාමි විසින් නිවන් පතා කරවන ලදි. ශ්‍රී බු. 2453).

The roof is built in two layers and tiled with semi-cylindrical clay times. The Pradesheya Sabha owns this building and it is been used for various purposes of the Sabha today.

Kamburupitiya Ambalama was declared a protected archaeological site by the gazette dated 16th September 2023 as below;

The premises bounded on the North by School Mawatha; on the East by private lands; on the South by by-road and on the West by Kamburupitiya–Deyyandara Road and the ancient wayside resting place situated therein at the Kamburupitiya junction in Kamburupitiya village in the Grama Niladhari Division of Kamburupitiya in Divisional Secretary’s Division, Kamburupitiya in the District of Matara, Southern Province (North Latitudes 6^°48′ 13” N and East Longitudes 80°33′ 98.3” E).

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Map of Kamburupitiya Ambalama

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Travel Directions to Kamburupitiya Ambalama

Route from Matara to Parambe Ambalama

Through : Thihagoda
Distance: 19 km
Travel Time : 35 minutes
Time to Spent: 15-20 mins
Driving directions : see on Google map

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Also See

Map of Kamburupitiya Ambalama

Travel Directions to Kamburupitiya Ambalama

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