Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(6 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

To the west of the Abhayagiri Monastery, along the Outer Circular Road (Watawandana Road), stand two remarkable Padhanaghara structures, which have been conserved and well maintained.

These secluded complexes were designed for meditating monks, deliberately placed far from cities and human settlements to ensure peace and isolation. Built in a distinctive style, a Padhanaghara is typically enclosed by a moat, often appearing as twin structures on rocky outcrops rising from the water. In some cases, such as here, water channels even flow beneath the buildings, adding to their uniqueness.

The architecture is minimalist. Granite pillars, plain and unadorned, form the core of the structures. The only exceptions are the carved urinal stones, the sole decorative element found in these otherwise minimalistic buildings.

From Kuttam Pokuna, travelling 4 kilometers along Watawandana Road past the towering Abhayagiri Stupa, this site appears on the left. Today, three entrances framed by granite slabs and pillars remain visible. Within the complex are four distinct structures, each isolated by waterways, offering the meditating bhikkhus the quiet seclusion they once sought.

No carvings appear on the rocks themselves. To the right of the main building lies the outhouse, marked by the only sculpted feature of the site—the urinal stone.

Continuing a further 1.5 kilometers along the same road, you will encounter Padhanaghara Building II of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, another striking example of this rare architectural form.

The Central Building (I1)

The central structure is a raised platform is supported by a retaining wall of rough stone blocks, while a terrace on the western side is reached by short flights of steps with balustrades and guardstones. At the southern end of this terrace lies a unique stone couch, carved from a single smooth slab with a curved stone backrest.

The first platform is faced with molded granite and reached by eastern steps with balustrades and guardstones. To the north, a small pokuna is partly supported on pillars. The second platform, surrounded by a shallow moat, supports twenty-four pillars, though no traces of rooms remain. The large threshold slab, once roofed on six pillars, has been restored in its rightful place.

Water Features and Layout

The compound is divided into uneven squares by thin stone slabs raised just above ground level. In the north-east corner lies the basement for a richly carved lavatory stone, complete with a miniature flight of stone steps, guardstones, and balustrades carved from a single block.

In the south-east corner, a large pokuna with eastern steps has caused part of the first platform to collapse into it. Along the north side lies another rock-cut pond, with a western stairway and two pedestals at its eastern end, each carved with an open lotus motif. A gangway of flat slabs on stone pillars partly covers this pond.

Outbuildings and Smaller Platforms

Two smaller platforms stand to either side of the central building’s second platform. Built into the rock and supported by retaining walls, they seem to have each held a single room, with pillars arranged around the edge. Massive stone slabs connect these with the main compound.

To the west, Building 3 lies in its usual place outside the walls and features a finely carved granite urinal stone. North of this, Building 4 serves as the latrine, built with two platforms and a connecting slab. Building 5 is out of place and cannot be clearly identified.

Building 7 has developed into a full structure, with plain platform facings, balustrades, and a connecting slab marked by a long slot—thought to serve as a walkway for priests. Building 10 is a rough ten-pillared hall, built of stone, but appears to be a later addition rather than part of the original plan.

Finally, to the north, Building 6 stands slightly apart, connected by paths to both the main avenue and Building 7. It is of some importance, with side steps leading from the central slab and a shallow moat encircling the second platform, entered by steps from the south-east.

Western Monasteries Discovered in Thapovana in Anuradhapura

Padhanaghara monasteries found west of the Ancient City of Anuradhapura are identified as

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

Connected waterways underneath the buildings of Padanagaraya I

References

Bandaranayake, S., 1974. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture—The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Leiden: Brill.
Hocart, A. M. (1924). Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Vol. I–VI (1st ed.). Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.

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 Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I

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.

Driving Directions to Anuradhapura (Padhanaghara of Western Monastery I)

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