A royal park on the road between Rājagaha and Nāḷandā. It contained a royal rest-house (rājāgāraka) in which the Buddha and members of the Order used to stay in the course of their journeying. It was on one such occasion that the Brahmajāla Sutta was taught (Vin.ii.287; D.i.1). Buddhaghosa (DA.i.41-2) says that it was a shady and well-watered park, so called because of a mango sapling which stood by the gateway. It was surrounded and well guarded by a rampart, and its rest-house was adorned with paintings for the king’s amusement.

It was one of the spots in which the Buddha rested during his last tour, and we are told that while there he discoursed to a large number of monks (D.ii.81; he remained there one night, UdA.408). However, the most famous of the Buddha’s discourses in Ambalaṭṭhikā seems to have been the Rāhulovāda Sutta named Ambalaṭṭhika-Rāhulovāda Sutta, because of its having been taught in the park (M.i.414 ff). From the context it appears as though Ambalaṭṭhikā was within walking distance from the Kalandakanivāpa in Rājagaha.

However, see below (4) for a more probable explanation.