Destination
Ambekke Devalaya
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Ambekke Devalaya, located close to a scenic paddy field in the Udunuwara Provincial Division of Kandy District is about 700 years old and has a historic and religious significance.
The devalaya was built by King Wickremabahu the 3rd of the Gampola Kingdom in honour of the Sri Kataragama deity. Built in the 15th year of the King’s rein in 1371BC, the devale had three stories but today, there is only one.
It is also a devala complex with 514 varieties of world renowned stone inscriptions.
The construction of this devalaya was initiated by King Wickremabahu the 3rd and his Queen Henakanda Biso Bandara led by a drummer of the Rangama Village
Belonging to the traditions of the village devalayas, it is said to bring about miracles.
There are three entry points to the devalaya:
- On Colombo – Kandy Highway, reach Pilimatalawa – Gadaladeniya Road and from there, down Daulagala – Buwelikada Road.
- Road across Buwelikada after reaching Daulagala from the Peradeniya – Panideniya.
- Buwelikada Road through Thalavathura after reaching Gelioya from Gampola.
There are eight main buildings in Ambekka Devalaya:
- Ritta Geya
- Sinhasana Mandapaya
- Vaahalkada
- Maha Devalaya.
- Palle Devalaya
- Muluthen Geya
- Vee Atuwa
- Budu Geya
There are three sections in the Maha Devala structure:
- Hevisi Maluwa or Dig Geya
- Sandun Kudama
- Antharalaya or Meda Dig Ge
- Pirith Kiyana Ge
- Veda Sitina Maligawa or Garbha Vimanaya
Amazing architectural creations could be seen in this Devalaya, which has great historical significance. The other key features are the carvings on wooden pillars and roof.
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