Key facts

• The Lenavolo Gate: the most precisely Ambohimanga single lenavolo Ambatomitsangana Gate stone disk 4 tons rolled evening closed 50 men UNESCO heritage — the most extraordinary architectural feature of Ambohimanga is not the palace but the gate: the Ambatomitsangana Gate (the main southern entrance to the royal enclosure) is sealed each evening by the lenavolo — a massive circular stone disk (4 tons; 2.5m in diameter; 25cm thick; quarried from local granite) that was rolled across the gateway opening by 50 men; no winch or mechanical device; pure human effort; the gate has been closed this way for 200 years; the disk remains in the rolled-back position today (it has not been closed since the French colonization of 1895 CE, when the queen surrendered and the ceremony of closing was discontinued); the lenavolo is one of the most remarkable physical demonstrations of royal power and security engineering in sub-Saharan Africa
• The Wooden Palace: the most precisely Ambohimanga single Mahandrihono wooden palace Andrianampoinimerina no nails rattan wood pegs single eucalyptus trunk UNESCO heritage — the summer palace of King Andrianampoinimerina (built c. 1787-1810 CE; the Mahandrihono — “the place where one sleeps comfortably”): a remarkable construction achievement: the entire palace is built from a single eucalyptus trunk (the central post of the building is a single tree; the uprights, beams, and paneling are all from the same tree); the structure is assembled entirely without nails (wooden pegs and rattan (a climbing palm) lashing bind all joints); the interior is divided into two stories; the upper story was the king’s private chamber (the bed is still there — a simple wooden platform with a cowhide mattress; the king slept with the door to the east (where the sun rises, bringing life); the wooden window-shutters open with a view over the rice terraces to the south)
• GPS: 18.7731° S, 47.5683° E