The temple

The Ambakka temple

here are many historical monuments that reveals the Sri Lankan heritage in the hill capital and the temple of Ambakka is very special because it owns some of the gratest carvings in Sri lanka. the temple is situated in the central province. there are several ways to get there. the road map is as shown bellow.
here are total of eight buildings built for the temple of Ambakka. Six buildings are in the inner temple, and two of them outside. The structures that are inside the surrounding wall are known as the 'inner temple'. The structures that are outside the wall are known as the 'outer temple'.

Inner temple structures.

Vahalkada
Maha devalaya (Katharagama devalaya) & diggeya(hevisi mandapaya)
Palle devalaya
Muluthangeya & Vee atuwa
Viharaya
Bodhiya

Outer temple structures.

Sinhasanaya
mada vahalkada
suniyam devalaya
idam geya

Vahalkada

This building is like the main gate of the temple. This is how the name "Vahalakada" was made. "Vahala" means 'the palace', and "kada" means 'the door' or 'gate'. The gate they used to enter the certain palace (katharagama god's palace) was called "vahalkada". There were three similar structures in the early days, but only one remains today. The structure was built upon ten carved wood supporting towers. This rectangular shaped structure is 22 feet long and 18 feet wide. There are many wood carvings, which will be explained later.

Maha devalaya (katharagama devalaya) & diggeya (hevisimaduwa)

This is the main building of the temple. This structure was built in the period of King Wickramabahu the third. This whole building can be divided into four parts.

-Sandunkudama
-Anthraalaya
-Pirithkiyana geya
-Garbha vimaanaya
Sandunkudama

When we walk through the Diggeya or the Hevisi mandapaya, we can see two beautifully carved doorway, which represents two lions. When we walk through this door we come in the hall known as the Sandunkudama. This is one of the first stuctures that was built here. The part called the Diggeya or Hevisi mandapaya, was built recently. This hall was called as the sandunkudama because it was used to store all the equipment that was needed for the annual parade. But in the earlier times this hall was used to perform traditional drumming as today, in diggeya. In this certain hall we an see an old clock and an old bell as well. There are three doors for this hall. The left door leads to the structure known as the Palle devalaya. The right door leads to the Viharaya, structure that is used to worship load buddha. The other door leads to the Antharalaya, another hall. In this certain door there is a carving of god of Katharagama.

Antharalaya
This hall is known as the mada diggeya as well as Antharalaya. This hall contains many historical items including two elephant tusks that were given by the king wikramabahu the third. When we pass through this hall we are in the hall known as the Pirith kiyana geya.

Pirith kiyana geya.

This hall is used to do the rituals after the annual parade. Buddhist priests performed these rituals.

Garbhagruhaya

This is where the priest performs the rituals to the god of Katharagama. Only the priest is allowed in this place. The priest is known as the Kapurala.

Diggeya(hevisimandapaya)

Diggeya is the most popular part of the building. This structure contains most of the wood carvings, which are very famous around the country. This structure was built on a 34-inch high stone floor. It was built like this to protect the wood structure and the carvings from termites and insects. The rectangular shaped roof sands on 32 wooden supporters. A supporter tower is about 8 feet high. In each tower there are four wood carvings, in each side of the supporting tower. Every carving is unique. These carvings were carved by an artist who's name was "Siyambalaagoda gedara kirihaami". Some books mention an artist called "delmada mulamariya" as well. In front of the Temple of tooth, in Kandy, there is a structure known as the "Magulmaduwa". This structure is related to the Ambakka temple structure. This structure was used to perform dancing and drumming. They say in the old days, female dancers called "Manimekala" used to perform in this building. Around 1890 period termites damaged some of these old carved wood-supporting towers. In 1939-1945 these wooden supporters were replaced.

Palle devalaya

This building lies in the left of the "Maha devala" (the main building). This temple is also known as "Devatha bandara devala". The door frame of this temple was taken from the palace of king Wickramabahu.

Vee atuwa & Muluthangeya.

Vee atuwa means the place where they keep all the rice taken from the fields. Muluthangeya means the kitchen. But earlier it was called as the Muruthangeya. "Muruthan" means the food that is given to the god. "Geya" means the house. So "muruthangeya" means, the place where they prepare gods food. Over time it came to be known as "muluthangeya".

The Ambakka temple

	here are many historical monuments that reveals the Sri Lankan heritage in the hill capital and the temple of Ambakka is very special because it owns some of the gratest carvings in Sri lanka. the temple is situated in the central province. there are several ways to get there. the road map is as shown bellow. here are total of eight buildings built for the temple of Ambakka. Six buildings are in the inner temple, and two of them outside. The structures that are inside the surrounding wall are known as the 'inner temple'. The structures that are outside the wall are known as the 'outer temple'. Inner temple structures. Vahalkada Maha devalaya (Katharagama devalaya) & diggeya(hevisi mandapaya) Palle devalaya Muluthangeya & Vee atuwa Viharaya Bodhiya Outer temple structures. Sinhasanaya mada vahalkada suniyam devalaya idam geya Vahalkada This building is like the main gate of the temple. This is how the name "Vahalakada" was made. "Vahala" means 'the palace', and "kada" means 'the door' or 'gate'. The gate they used to enter the certain palace (katharagama god's palace) was called "vahalkada". There were three similar structures in the early days, but only one remains today. The structure was built upon ten carved wood supporting towers. This rectangular shaped structure is 22 feet long and 18 feet wide. There are many wood carvings, which will be explained later. Maha devalaya (katharagama devalaya) & diggeya (hevisimaduwa) This is the main building of the temple. This structure was built in the period of King Wickramabahu the third. This whole building can be divided into four parts. -Sandunkudama -Anthraalaya -Pirithkiyana geya -Garbha vimaanaya Sandunkudama When we walk through the Diggeya or the Hevisi mandapaya, we can see two beautifully carved doorway, which represents two lions. When we walk through this door we come in the hall known as the Sandunkudama. This is one of the first stuctures that was built here. The part called the Diggeya or Hevisi mandapaya, was built recently. This hall was called as the sandunkudama because it was used to store all the equipment that was needed for the annual parade. But in the earlier times this hall was used to perform traditional drumming as today, in diggeya. In this certain hall we an see an old clock and an old bell as well. There are three doors for this hall. The left door leads to the structure known as the Palle devalaya. The right door leads to the Viharaya, structure that is used to worship load buddha. The other door leads to the Antharalaya, another hall. In this certain door there is a carving of god of Katharagama. Antharalaya This hall is known as the mada diggeya as well as Antharalaya. This hall contains many historical items including two elephant tusks that were given by the king wikramabahu the third. When we pass through this hall we are in the hall known as the Pirith kiyana geya. Pirith kiyana geya. This hall is used to do the rituals after the annual parade. Buddhist priests performed these rituals. Garbhagruhaya This is where the priest performs the rituals to the god of Katharagama. Only the priest is allowed in this place. The priest is known as the Kapurala. Diggeya(hevisimandapaya) Diggeya is the most popular part of the building. This structure contains most of the wood carvings, which are very famous around the country. This structure was built on a 34-inch high stone floor. It was built like this to protect the wood structure and the carvings from termites and insects. The rectangular shaped roof sands on 32 wooden supporters. A supporter tower is about 8 feet high. In each tower there are four wood carvings, in each side of the supporting tower. Every carving is unique. These carvings were carved by an artist who's name was "Siyambalaagoda gedara kirihaami". Some books mention an artist called "delmada mulamariya" as well. In front of the Temple of tooth, in Kandy, there is a structure known as the "Magulmaduwa". This structure is related to the Ambakka temple structure. This structure was used to perform dancing and drumming. They say in the old days, female dancers called "Manimekala" used to perform in this building. Around 1890 period termites damaged some of these old carved wood-supporting towers. In 1939-1945 these wooden supporters were replaced. Palle devalaya This building lies in the left of the "Maha devala" (the main building). This temple is also known as "Devatha bandara devala". The door frame of this temple was taken from the palace of king Wickramabahu. Vee atuwa & Muluthangeya. Vee atuwa means the place where they keep all the rice taken from the fields. Muluthangeya means the kitchen. But earlier it was called as the Muruthangeya. "Muruthan" means the food that is given to the god. "Geya" means the house. So "muruthangeya" means, the place where they prepare gods food. Over time it came to be known as "muluthangeya".