Athurugiriya and the 1911 Ambalama

The Athurugiriya Ambalama, also known as Pore Ambalama, is an old wayside rest house in Athurugiriya. Its construction year, 1911, is engraved on the stone pillars. Its name, former function, and specific construction year give the site a clear point of reference in cultural history. If you are considering Athurugiriya as a travel destination and are interested in older buildings, you can include the Ambalama as a specific subject in your plans.

Construction year and protection status

The year 1911 refers to the construction of the building; the date is engraved on the stone pillars. Another date relates to a different aspect of its history: the protection designation was announced in the Government Gazette on September 16, 2023. The construction year and the announcement therefore represent different milestones. One dates the construction, while the other marks the announcement of the protection status.

As an archaeological protected monument, the designation covers the Athurugiriya Ambalama, the old well, and the associated land. The protected area thus extends beyond the individual building. To understand the chronology and location, it is helpful to distinguish between the construction year and protection status, while also viewing the building, well, and land as parts of the same protected area.

Form, materials, and roof

The Ambalama is a rectangular building made of brick and mortar. Its roof, covered with Calicut clay tiles, also known as Rata Ulu, rests on six brick pillars and two stone pillars. This distinguishes several specific features: the building’s basic shape, the materials of its masonry, the named roof covering, and the two groups of supports.

The description of the pillars distinguishes their materials: six brick pillars and two stone pillars. At the same time, both numbers refer to the supports on which the roof rests. This makes the description more precise than simply calling the building a brick structure. Different components come together in its architectural description: brick and mortar describe the body of the building, Calicut clay tiles the roof covering, and stone and brick the pillars. These features offer a concrete way to understand its architectural form, alongside the construction year engraved on the pillars.

Names and setting in Athurugiriya

Athurugiriya Ambalama and Pore Ambalama are two names for the same building. The place name in the first name connects it to Athurugiriya; the second name helps identify the Ambalama by its alternative name. Its description as an old wayside rest house is as much a part of its story as its architectural details. Taken together, these details form a specific historical subject: a wayside rest house, an engraved construction year, and architecture that can be described in terms of its form, materials, and supports.

The protection status also broadens the context: the old well and associated land are included in the archaeological protected monument along with the Ambalama. This distinguishes the description of the protected area from the description of the building itself. Those interested in the site’s history and architecture will find several clearly distinct perspectives, rather than just a date or architectural style.

Athurugiriya as a destination for your stay

If you are looking for hotels in Athurugiriya, you can first consider whether the site’s historical significance aligns with your travel interests. The Ambalama offers a specific point of connection: its history as an old wayside rest house, its 1911 construction year, its described architectural form, and the protection status announced in 2023. These factors can influence your choice of destination if you would like to include historic buildings in your travel plans.

To help with your choice, consider the different questions separately: Are you most interested in its former function as a wayside rest house, its architecture with its distinctive roof covering and different types of pillars, or the designation of the building, well, and land as a protected monument? These perspectives relate to the same local subject but emphasize different aspects.

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