Ambakke Devalaya

Ambekke Devalaya can be considered as an important building with its finest wood. Its history goes back to the Gampola period. The Devalaya is located in the Medapalata Korale of Udunuwara area of ​​Kandy Province. This place is dedicated to the God of Kataragama. Peoples believed that the Devalaya was first make by King Wickramabahu III (1357-1374 AD). The construction was later modified by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe. It is recorded in history as a three-story building. Today we can see only the remaining structure and wooden posts. The famous woodwork of the Embekke Devalaya is said to have been made by a skilled craftsman named Delmada Devendra Mulachari.

An interesting story mentions the construction of the Embekke Devalaya. It involves a drummer who is suffering from an incurable disease. According to legend, he was cured after visiting Kataragama Devalaya. In gratitude, he promised God Kataragama that he would visit the Devalaya every year to pay his respects. But when he was old, he was worried that he would not be able to make sacrifices for the god. One day God Kataragama appeared in his dream and told him that he was ordered to sacrifice in a place where a miracle was performed.

The car saw such a miracle happen in the garden of Queen Henakanda Biso Bandara; the great wife of King Wickramarabahu. In the garden, there was a tree that bled every time someone tried to cut it down. After learning of this incident, the carter told the dream to the king and offered his sacrifices to this tree. So, with the royal patronage of King Wickramabahu III and the queen, a temple was built in this place. Later, the building was expanded and the beautiful wood was added by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe.

The Embekke Devalaya provides an insight into the practice used in ancient Sri Lanka. This construction consists of three main parts such as the temple or Garbhaya where there was the image of God Kataragama, the Digge or Dancing hall) which represents the wife of the king Henakanda Bandara , and where dances were held during the. the kings and the last part of the Drummers' Hall or Hewisi Mandapaya, representing the Rangama drum is involved in the story behind its construction and where the music was made.

Except for the Sanctum, the rest of the Embekke Devalaya is almost entirely made of wood which provides a spectacular view for the visitors. The most important place in this Devalaya complex is the Drummer's hall because of its architectural features decorated with beautiful wood carvings on the pillars and doors. The building is 52 feet long and 25 feet wide and is raised on the support of 32 wooden posts. It is also built on a stone about 34 inches high.

The wooden posts in this house are made together in 2 different shapes such as square and rectangle. The bases of the pillars are square and their tops end in the shape of four leaves arranged in a square like Pekada. These pillars are made of different trees such as Gammalu, Ginisapu, Burutha, Na, and Halmilla. It is said that the core of the tree was torn out and taken to make poles. Then dip in oil and dry well as a final process. This is because this method has long preserved carved wooden posts.

The roof of this structure can also welcome visitors with its unique design that reflects the ancient architecture of Sri Lanka. The most visible thing here is the wooden installation of the main beam on the roof which is called Modal Kurupawa. This large wooden pin holds twenty-six beams together at one end of the roof of the Digge (Dance Hall), making it one of the examples of the most remarkable form of ancient carpentry in this country. Another unique element is that the entire structure is made of wood, nothing else is used, not even metal. Even the nails used to attach the beams are carved into the wood.

The entrance to the Embekke Devalaya is called Vahalkada. It is also decorated with elaborately carved cross-beams. A part called the Antaralaya of this Devala complex has a collection of ancient artifacts with great historical value. One of these was a pair of teeth offered by King Wickramabahu. There is a palanquin given to King Rajasinghe ll by the Dutch, which he later donated to the Devalaya. A large number of other important things can be seen on display inside the Antaralaya.