Things to do in Ambalangoda & Around
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Sailatalarama Vihara
Sailatalarama Vihara lies 7km inland from Ambalangoda. This temple sits on a domed hill with broad views over spice plantations and lakes towards the ranges of the Province of Sabaragamuwa. The temple has a 35m-long sleeping Buddha statue, built by donations. Pilgrims approach the dagobas and devale (a complex designed for worshipping a Hindu or local Sri Lankan deity) via 208 steps, but there’s also a road to the top. The statue is new and not the most outstanding example of its type and the compulsory ‘donation’ for foreigners (Rs 250) is a bit steep, but it’s worth coming here for the rural scenery and the views. Also check out the photo on the wall of a German-based m…
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School of Dance
School of Dance teaches the southern forms of dance such as kolam (masked dance-drama), Kandyan and Sabaragamu. It’s located across the intersection from the Ariyapala Mask Museum, with which it’s affiliated. The school is run by Bandu Wijesuriya, a descendant of a long line of famous mask carvers. Anyone can join the classes; there’s a fee of Rs 500 per hour for foreigners who are normally given one-to-one tuition. Wijesuriya also teaches mask carving and painting, as well as traditional drumming and singing. Students can stay in hostel-style rooms for Rs 750 per night. There is talk of a theatre with regular dance shows being opened, but for the moment Rs 10,000 and two…
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Madu Ganga
Between Ambalangoda and Iduruwa the muddy Madu Ganga dances around the coastline forming a complicated network of lagoons and off-shoots. It’s fantastic birding territory and in praise of this it’s been made into a Ramsar site. Boat tours (Rs 2500 per boat, 1½ hours) are run by Maduwa River Boats from Balapitiya, a few kilometres north of Ambalangoda.
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Ariyapala Mask Museum
The Ariyapala Mask Museum is a good museum, with dioramas and explanations in English. It also sells the booklet The Ambalangoda Mask Museum, if you want to delve into the mysterious world of dance, legend and exorcism, and the psychology behind the masks.
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Dudley Silva
Dudley Silva is a good place for batik – and the 140-year-old house is an attraction in itself. There’s a signpost a little past MH Mettananda’s shop as you head south towards the centre of town.
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Ariyapala Traditional Masks
Ariyapala Traditional Masks is one of the shops owned by a son of the famous mask-carver Ariyapala. The pieces on sale are rather expensive but utterly captivating.
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Maduwa River Boats
Boat tours on the river Madu Ganga are run by Maduwa River Boats from Balapitiya, a few kilometres north of Ambalangoda.
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MH Mettananda
MH Mettananda, who has a shop about 500m north of the stations, is one of the good mask carvers in Ambalangoda.
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