Embekke Devalaya

Built of wood, the Embekke Devalaya comprises of a shrine room, a dancing hall and a drummers’ hall. The most eye catching feature of this Devalaya is the intricate wood carvings that decorate the whole premises, in every pillar and inch of the roof. The carvings, considered by some experts to be the best in the world, include animals such as swans, lions, elephants and bulls along with twisting vines, dancers and other mythical creatures. Roof of the devalaya does not have a central beam, but is built of 26 rafts that gives the impression of a wheel of a cart with spokes, meeting at the centre and is connected with a wooden nail. To the side of the devalaya is a Atu Geya or a rice barn, with two rooms and a gable roof. The paddy and other grain harvests that were offered to the Devalaya was once stored here.