To the west of the Abhayagirya monastery on the outer circular road (Watawanda Road) are two Padhanaghara structures.
Padhanaghara Complexes were used by the meditating monks and are located away from the cities and human settlements. Padhanaghara is built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding it. Quite often these structures were built as twin structures on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the moat. Sometimes there are waterways even inside the moat underneath the buildings such as this building complex.
The buildings are made of granite pillars void of any decorations. The only carvings you find on such buildings are on the urinal stones
Travelling along Watawandana Road from Kuttam Pokuna for 4 kilometres passing Abhayagiriya Stupa, you will reach this site on the left of the road. 3 entrances made of granite slabs and pillars of this structure can be seen today. 4 separate structures, all isolated by waterways would have provided the meditating bikkus with all the serenity they needed in the ancient past.
There is not a single caving on any of the rocks. To the right of the building outside the main structure is where the outhouse was located. Here you will see the only caved rock in the whole building, the urinal stone.
Travelling a further 1.5 km from this site, you will come across the Padhanaghara building II of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.
Western Monasteries Discovered in Thapovana in Anuradhapura
Padhanaghara monasteries found west of Anuradhapura Ancient City are identified as
- Western Monastery A
- Western Monastery B
- Western Monastery C
- Western Monastery D
- Western Monastery E
- Western Monastery F
- Western Monastery G
- Western Monastery H
- Western Monastery I
- Western Monastery J and
- Western Monastery K
- Western Monastery M
- Western Monastery N
References
- Bandaranayake, S., 1974. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture – The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Leiden: Brill.
Also See
Map of Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Driving Directions to Anuradhapura (Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I)
Anuradhapura can be reached through many routes from Colombo. The two main routes are through Puttalam (Puttalama) and through Kurunegala. Travelling from Puttalam, you will pass the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main routes to Anuradhapura. The most common route is through Dambulla. The other route is through Galgamuwa. Out of all the routes, the most commonly used is the Kurunegala-Dambulla route (Route 2).
Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura | Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura |
Through : Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo : 210 km Travel time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Through : Katunayake Expressway – Central Expressway – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo : 223 km Travel Time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps |
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura | Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura |
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo :203 km Travel Time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Through : Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo :136 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map |
Distance : 7.8 kilometers Travel time: 20 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |
Distance : 7.8 kilometers Travel time : 20 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |