Heritage

Thimbiri Pokuna at Anuradhapura Jethawanaramaya (අනුරාධපුර ජේතවනාරාම භූමියේ තිඹිරි පොකුණ)

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Thimbiri Pokuna in Jethawanarama Complex.
photo by Martin Mueller

Timbiri Pokuna (Thimbiri Pond) is considered the largest pond in the Jetavanarama Aramic complex in Anuradhapura. This pond was first identified by Mr. HCP Bell and recorded in the Archaeology report of 1893. However, no restoration or archaeological digging has been carried out.

The design and the placement of the pond indicate that it was not only for the supply of water for the monks in the aramic complex but also great care has been taken in designing this pond. For the next hundred years, the pond existed as a mud pond with no attention given to it. The first archaeological excavation of this pond was started in 1995 with funds from the Central Cultural Fund. This excavation continued for 3 years and ended in 1998.

During this archaeological discovery excavation, this point was found to be 99 metres and 32 metres in size and was built with blocks of rock. They have been well smoothened Staircase were web built at the centre of the southern wall as well as on the Western wall. The bottom is not paved and like most other ponds, the water was supplied from natural underground springs. With Malwathu Oya and Halpan Ela flowing around the Jethawanaramaya, groundwater would have been sufficient to fill this pond.

The restoration work of the Thimbiri Pokuna started again in 2001. The pond has again turned into a mud pond after the first archaeological excavation. While cleaning the mud layer at the bottom, parts of Buddha statues were discovered scattered close to the western side of the pond. It seems to have fallen into the pond and broken into pieces. The statue was carved out of Dolomite and the salt layers deposited on the statue have somewhat eroded the rock.

The head and the hands of the statue were missing but from the remaining pieces it has been deduced that this belongs to the late Anuradhapura period. The statue shows Andra sculpture design. From the way the elbow is bent, it is assumed that this statue was in Abhaya mudra which is the most common mudra in standing statues of this era.

The dolamite statue which was discoverd from the bottom of the Thimbiri Pokuna in Jethawanarama Complex. — The dolomite statue which was discovered from the bottom of the Thimbiri Pokuna in the Jethawanarama Complex.

Sources

තිඹිරි පොකුණෙන් හමුවූ බුදු පිලිමය – මධ්‍යම සංස්කෘතික අරමුදල (2008)

Also See

Map of Thimbiri Pokuna at Jethawanarama Monastery

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Driving Directions to Anuradhapura

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

Mihintale Slab Inscriptions and the Relic House (4වන මිහිඳු රජුගේ මිහින්තලේ පුවරු ලිපි)
The inscription of King Mahinda IV belonging to the tenth century is installed on the two sides of the entrance to this Vihara. The relic house is a square building. […]
Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila (දඹේගොඩ ටැම් ලිපිය)
Established by King Mahinda IV (956-972) Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila narrates the religious acts of the king and lays down rules for the administration of certain religious establishments. […]
Kotttapitiya Slab Inscription (කෝට්ටපිටිය පුවරු ලිපිය)
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Many do not pay special attention to this pillar which is generally called "Dutugenumu Pillar" but the story behind this pillar is interesting as the construction of the Ruwanweli Seya itself. This pillar was installed by King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BCE) on the advice of Mihindu Maha Thero. […]
Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Burial Site in Maduru Oya Valley
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Gurugalhinna Megalithic Cemetery was initially uncovered and examined in 1896 by R. W. Levers. Subsequently, in the 1970s, Raja De Silva from the Department of Archaeology led excavations at Gurugalhinna. However, the burials at the site have not been scientifically dated. […]
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The old city of Kurunegala Kingdom was spread between Kuruminigala and Ibbagala, bounded by Athugala. Even today ruins of the palace complex, the Temple of Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) and other buildings inside a semi-circular are found on this strip of land between Athugala and Kuruminigala. […]
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Inguruwaththa Purana Tampita Viharaya (ඉඟුරුවත්ත පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
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Hiripathwella Mayurawathi Sri Bodhirajarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (හිරිපත්වැල්ල මයුරාවතී ශ්‍රී බෝධිරාජාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
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Buttala Yatiyallathota Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya – බුත්තල යටියල්ලාතොට කුටුම්බාල රජමහා විහාරය
Buttala Yatiyallathota Kutumbala Rajamaha Viharaya is believed to be during the reign of Mahanaga, brother of king Devanampiatissa (250-210 BC). One of the two large stupa still remains as mound of earth while a new stupa has been built on top of the other. […]
Mullegama Mulgirigala Rajamaha Viharaya – මුල්ලේගම මුල්ගිරිගල රජමහා විහාරය
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Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya (බුත්තල කටුගහගල්ගේ රජමහා විහාරය)
Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple with its origin going back to pre christian era with some unique features including a Nissanka Gau Inscription pillar, […]
Dimbulagala Namal Pokuna Monastic Complex at (දිඹුලාගල නාමල් පොකුණ ආරන්‍යය)
Dimbulagala Namal Pokuna is an ancient armaic complex lying on a peaceful undisturbed rocky outcrop close to the Popular Dimbulagala Temple. Probably part of the same complex in the ancient times […]
Unambuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya (උණම්බුව පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
At the ancient temple at Unambuwa, you will find a Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan era. A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform which rests on number of stone stumps usually 3-4 feet tall. […]
Ranwala Purana Tampita Viharaya – රංවල පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය
Ranwala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya hidden just few hundred meters away from the Colombo Kandy road just before the Kegalle town. […]

Sources

Also See

Map of Thimbiri Pokuna at Jethawanarama Monastery

Driving Directions to Anuradhapura

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