Panavitiya Ambalama

Panavitiya Ambalama (Sinhala: පනාවිටිය අම්බලම) is an ambalama situated in Sri Lanka. An ambalama (අම්බලම) is a place constructed for pilgrims, traders and travellers to rest. Panavitiya Ambalama is a place famous for its ornate wood carvings which are regarded to be on par[1] with those at Embekka Devalaya, Lankathilaka and Gadaladeniya Viharas.

Panavitiya Ambalama
පනාවිටිය අම්බලම
Panavitiya Ambalama
General information
StatusPreserved
Architectural styleAmbalama
LocationPanavitiya, Kurunegala District
CountrySri Lanka
Known forWooden carvings

Location

Panavitiya Ambalama is situated in the village of Panavitiya (පනාවිටිය) off Matiyagane (මැටියගනේ) in the Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The location is accessible by vehicles as of 2019.

One of the routes that can be taken for reaching the ambalama from Colombo is by taking the Negombo-Kurunegala highway to Matiyagane (මැටියගනේ) school junction via Dambadeniya (දඹදෙණිය) and then turning left at the junction onto Dangolla (දංගොල්ල) road. Kajugas handiya (කජුගස් හන්දිය) bus stop can be reached by continuing on Dangolla (දංගොල්ල) road for another 2 km. Panavitiya Ambalama can be reached by travelling another 1.5 km along the road after turning left at the Kajugas handiya (කජුගස් හන්දිය) bus stop. [2][3][4]

History

It is said that this was erected in the 18th Century or before.[5]

The ambalama is believed to be built to the wayside of two routes used by travellers on foot. One route is said to be a footpath made during Dambadeniya era.[3][6] This route is purported to have originated from the eastern gates of the Dambadenya palace and follows northeast passing by the Panavitiya Ambalama and travels further northeast towards Yapahuwa, passing through another ambalama now identified as the Karagahagedara Ambalama (Sinhala: කරගහගෙදර අම්බලම).[7] The other, more ancient route accessible from Panavitiya Amblama was said to be towards the Anuradhapura (Sinhala: අනුරාධපුර) city.[7]

By early 1960s, the ambalama had fallen into disrepair as evidenced by the photographs taken at that time. Most of the timber framework had decayed and the roof was thatched with cadjun instead of the original brick tiles.In the following year the ambalama had completely collapsed

This is conserved by Archaeological Department, Sri Lanka.


A view of the Panavitiya Ambalama with the sign board erected by the Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka), showing the restoration stages of ambalama

Structure

The original base holding the wooden structure of the Panavitiya Ambalama was quadrangular platform, filled with stone pebbles and crushed rocks and raised about half a foot from ground. The platform measures 12 feet 4 inches (approximately 3.7 m) by 9 feet 6 inches (approximately 2.9 m).The wooden frame was constructed on four round boulders, each about a foot in height and placed at the four corners of this stone filled base. This arrangement on the stone slabs kept the wooden floor and posts of the ambalama away from dampness and termite attack. In later conservation stages carried out by the Archaeological Department, Sri Lanka, a secondary base of granite was built over the original base to protect it.[7]

Four timber logs, each about 4 feet in diameter were connected at seating height over the stone boulders at the base. These four logs serve as the building template to fit the four main wooden posts supporting the roof. Panavitiya Ambalama comprises a total of 28 wooden posts. On either side of the two main entrance pillars, 12 posts, arranged in two by six rows parallel to the main pillar, run towards the back of the ambalama. Of the 28 posts 9 are set in the interior and the rest make up the "outer set".The 9 inner posts are approximately 6 feet high while the outer set of 19 posts are approximately 5 and a half feet high.[8]

The posts are connected to the roof by a decorated pekada (පේකඩ -pillar head).[9]

Wood Carvings at Panavitiya Ambalama

Panavitiya Ambalama is famous for its elaborate and beautiful wood carvings which decorate the entire ambalama. Some of the carvings date back to 18th century

The body of the posts are carved in an octagonal shape with a square panel at the middle of each post. Each of the square panels of all the 9 inner posts are decorated with elaborate carvings. There are 36 such panel carvings. Additionally, the pillar heads (connecting the posts to the roof), beams, rafters and reepers are also richly carved.[10]

Carvings like Gajasinghe Katayama, Hansa Puttuwa, flower designs and sculptures of dancers could be seen. Other than that, carvings about day-to-day life can also be found. Many wood carvings that could be seen in Embekka Devalaya could also be seen here.[3] [10]


  • Panavitiya ambalama wood panel carving- An ornate carving of a lotus flower in one of the wooden pillars in Panavitiya Ambalama (November 2019)
  • Panavitiya ambalama wood panel carving- An ornate carving of a dancing girl in traditional Kandyan costume (November 2019)

References
  1. "කැටයම් කලාවේ නිපුණතා දැක් වූ පනාවිටිය අම්බලම". දිනමිණ. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  2. "Lakdasun Trip Reports Archive » Glory of the Royal Cities – Dambadeniya & Yapahuwa". Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  3. "[Wood Carvings of Panavitiya Ambalama]". Vijaya (in Sinhala). Vijaya Newspapers Limited, Sri Lanka. 33 (7): 12. 30 August 2011.
  4. "The wooden wonder of Panavitiya Ambalama". Sunday Observer. 23 June 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  5. "Philatelic Bureau". www.stamps.gov.lk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  6. "The Island". www.island.lk. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  7. අඹන්වල, චන්දිම (14 April 2017). "පනාවිටිය අම්බලම | ශ්‍රි ලංකා පුරාවිද්‍යාව - Sri Lanka Archaeology". Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  8. Godakumbure, Charles (2011). "Chapter 8; Rest-hall at Panavitiya". ISC Wood. ICOMOS International Committee on Wood.
  9. "ISC Wood - International Council on Monuments and Sites". www.icomos.org. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  10. "Panavitiya Ambalama Showcasing Sri Lanka's indigenous architecture | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 11 November 2019.

  • Roof beam carving- Lion following an elephant
  • Panel carving- Nattuwa (නැට්ටුවා -Dancer)
  • Panel carving- Aachara samaachaara (ආචාර සමාචාර- carving depicting a greeting scene between two women)
  • Panel carving-Lanu getaya (ලණු ගැටය - Twisted rope pattern)
  • Panel carving- Nalgana saha berakaru-(නළඟන සහ බෙරකරු- carving depicting a dancing girl in traditional costume dancing to the beat of a short drum)
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