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To the west to the Abhayagirya monastery on the outer circular road (Watawanda Road) are two Padanagara structures.
Padanagara Complexes were used by the meditating monks and are located away from the cities and human settlements. Padanagara are built on a unique architectural style with a moat surrounding them. 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 made of granite pillars void of any decorations. The only carvings you find on such buildings are on the urinal stones
Traveling along Watawandana Road from Kuttam Pokuna for 4 kilometers passing Abhayagiriya Stupa, you will reach this site on the left to 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 to 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 Padanagara building II of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.
Also See
Map of Padanagara Complex 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 (Padanagara Complex I )
Anuradhapura can be reached through many routes from Colombo. The two main routes are through Puttalam (Puttalama) and though Kurunegala. Traveling from Puttalam you will pass scenic Wilpattu area. the From Kurunegala there are two main routes to Anuradhapura. The most common route is through Dambulla. The other route is though Galgamuwa. Out of all the routes, the commonly used is the Kurunegala – Dambulla route (Route 2).
| Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura | Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura |
| Through : Negombo – Chillaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo :213 km Travel time : 4.30- 5.00 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Through : Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo : 217 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 : Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo :210 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 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
Route from Anuradhapura Railway Station to Padanagara Complex I |
| Distance : 7.8 kilometers Travel time : 20 minutes Driving directions : see on google map |
