Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds) | AmazingLanka.com

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(35 votes, average: 3.57 out of 5)

Kuttam Pokuna, or the Twin Ponds, is a stunning example of ancient Sri Lanka’s sophisticated hydraulic engineering. Located within the Abhayagiri Monastic Complex, these ponds are believed to have served as bathing pools for monks. While their exact origins remain uncertain, historians attribute their construction to the reign of King Aggabodhi I (575–608 CE).

Architectural evidence suggests that the smaller northern pond was built first, followed by the larger southern pond. The two ponds are connected by an underground pipeline. The northern pond measures 91 feet (28 m) in length, while the southern pond is 132 feet (40 m) long. Both are 51 feet (15.5 m) wide, separated by a gap of 9 feet (2.7 m). The northern pond features two stairways with 20 steps each, while the southern pond has three stairways with 18 steps each, arranged in three stages. The pots of plenty (punkalasa) at each pond differ in design, showcasing unique artistry.

Water Supply and Filtration System

Water was supplied through an advanced system of underground pipelines and filtering chambers—still visible today—that acted as sediment traps. From there, water entered the northern pond through a beautifully carved dragon’s mouth. The southern pond received water via a subterranean duct, while drainage for both ponds occurred through an outlet at the base of the northern pond. Notable carvings include a finely sculpted five-hooded cobra beneath a Makara Thorana (Dragon Arch) and another cobra figure near the northern pond’s water inlet.

Restoration Efforts

Kuttam Pokuna has undergone several restoration efforts, with the most comprehensive work completed in the 1950s under the guidance of Prof. Senarath Paranavithana. His 1952 report notes that massive stone slabs—some as large as 22′ x 2′ x 1′—were used in construction. Two missing purnaghatas were replaced with concrete replicas during this restoration.

The main effort at Anuradhapura, as in the past three years, has been at the Kuttam Pokuna. The dismantling of the stonework of the larger bath was continued throughout the year, and was completed towards the end of the period. The necessity of pumping out the water during the rainy weather slowed down operations. A large number of stone slabs which had fallen down and sunk in the mud at the bottom of the pond were recovered. It appears that, at a later period, when the inlet channels which fed the bath were no longer functioning, the necessity was felt to store a sufficient quantity of water during the rains so that the bath would retain some water during the dry season. This was achieved by deepening the bed of the pond, leaving as much of earth at the base of the retaining walls as was necessary to prevent their collapse. But this procedure must have inevitably weakened the stability of the stone-work which, due to this cause, as well as the action of the roots of trees which grew luxuriantly during the seven centuries or so after these baths, in common with the other monuments of ancient Anuradhapura, were given over to the jungle, were dislodged from their position, some falling into the pit in the centre. The rain water which flowed into the abandoned pond during seven hundred years brought with it silt mixed with decayed vegetable matter and about six feet of black earth thus accumulated had to be removed before natural ground was encountered.’
In addition to the disjecta membra of the side retaining walls of the bath, one of the six ‘purnaghatas’ which originally adorned its three entrances was also recovered from this silt, This purnaghatas, of which the top is damaged, is of a more ornate type than the similar features which adorned the adjoining bath-a circumstance in keeping with the more complicated architectural design of this bath when compared with the adjoining one. This discovery is of great help in the work of restoration ; otherwise, there would have been no alternative but to conclude that the purnaghatas of this bath were replicas of those of the other. Thus a deviation might have been made from the original design of the bath, even though it be with regard to a detail of ornamentation. The discovery of the purnaghata has enabled the restoration of the bath to its pristine condition without deviating even in this particular from its original design.
After the dismantling of the stone-work which had not shifted much from its original position, it was necessary to ascertain, with the help of the clues afforded by their outlines, the places which the scattered stones occupied in the original architectural scheme. This work was rendered more difficult by the reason that, in the side which was restored before the Archaeological Department came into being, no attempt had been made to put back the stones into their original positions. Arranging the various courses according to the original scheme was thus a wry slow and laborious process. A stone had to be shifted about many times before it could finally he ascertained that it had been brought in contact with what had been its neighbour when the bath left the hands of the builders. Many of the problems have, nevertheless, been solved and we arc now in a position to begin the work of reconstruction.
Before this is undertaken, however, another matter has to be settled beyond a possibility of doubt. That is the correct level of the foundation of the retaining walls so that, when this pond is restored, its relationship with its neighbour is exactly the same as it was of old. As the edges of the stones are wasted, it is not quite. feasible to calculate this by measuring the thickness of the stones of the various courses. Nor is there any evidence to conclude that the foundations of the retaining walls of this bath were at the identical level of those of the adjoining one. The cornices of the parapet formed by the continuation of the retaining walls have been on the same level. Thus, in order to eliminate the possibility of being confronted with an error after the stones had been fixed in their positions, it was decided to temporarily lay the stones of the various courses of a section of the northern side, which is separated by the southern side of the adjoining bath by a distance of only 9ft., the two being locked together by two slabs of stone at ground level, each one stretching from the base of the parapet of one bath to that of the other.

Kuttam Pokuna, or the twin ponds of the Abhayagiri Vihara Complex, lies just 600 meters east of the Abhayagri Stupa and 400 meters east of the famous Samadhi Statue.

Important Information for Foreign Tourists Visiting Sites at Sacred City of Anuradhapura

Most of the more popular sites in Anuradhapura strictly check for tickets from tourists, while the less-visited sites tend to be more relaxed due to the lack of staff. However, tourists should be cautious, as some unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers may attempt to exploit this situation.

They sometimes offer to take foreign tourists along routes where ticket checks are less common or even try to collect the entrance fee themselves, claiming they will purchase the tickets on the tourists’ behalf. Tourists are strongly advised not to fall for such scams, as this can lead to unnecessary complications with site security or the police.

Information on the Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket and where and how to purchase can be found here

Kuttam Pokuna filled to the brim after heavy showers to Anuradhapura

The water to Kuttam Pokuna is filtered a third and a forth time before entering the pond

The five hooded naga stone at Kuttam Pokuna

Ruins of building surrounding the Kuttam Pokuna

References

Paranavitana, S., 1953. Report of the Archeological Survey of Ceylon for 1952. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Government Publication Bureau, pp.G24-G25.
Paranavitana, S., 1954. Report of the Archeological Survey of Ceylon for 1953. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Government Publication Bureau, pp.G12-G13.
Seneviratna, A., 1994. Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka.

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hallowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

Map of Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

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

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Traveling Directions to Kuttam Pokuna (Anuradhapura)

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

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 Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 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 Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps