Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir (වඩමුනෛ වැව)

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The Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir in Kiran is a large 650-acre irrigation system with a 920-meter embankment dating to the 2nd century CE. Identified as Vadamanaka in a Nelugala rock inscription, it sustained a prosperous Anurādhapura-period agricultural economy and a dense network of surrounding Buddhist monastic communities.

Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir is located within the Vadamunai 210-A Grāma Niladhāri Division, in the Divisional Secretariat Division of Kōralai Pattu South (Kiran).

Access Route

Travelling from Welikanda town along the Batticaloa road, proceed for approximately 2 kilometers (1.25 miles). Near the 100th kilometer post, turn right onto the Kallichchai road and continue for approximately 8 kilometers (4.97 miles) to reach the destination.

Historical Background

The distribution of ancient archaeological sites together with the characteristics of this large-scale irrigation reservoir indicate that a prosperous agricultural society and Buddhist religious community existed in this region during the Anurādhapura period, centered around these irrigation systems.

A rock inscription discovered at the Nelugala archaeological site refers to this reservoir as Vadamanaka. Based on this evidence, the construction of the reservoir appears to date to approximately the 2nd century CE.

Location and Nature of Archaeological Evidence

The Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir is the largest reservoir in this region, covering an area of approximately 650 acres (263 hectares). Its embankment extends for about 920 meters (3,000 feet) in a northwest-to-southeast direction.

Considering the large number of Buddhist monastic sites belonging to the early Anurādhapura period found in the surrounding area, this region appears to have been densely populated in ancient times. The reservoir, together with the smaller reservoirs in the vicinity, would have played a major role in sustaining the agricultural economy and daily life of the settlements that flourished here during this prosperous period.

Geographical Coordinates

The exact location of the site is as follows:

North Latitude: 7°54’31.1″N
East Longitude: 81°16’18.9″E

References

Exploration and Documentation Division (Ed.). (2017). පුරාවිද්යා ස්ථාන හඳුනා ගැනීමේ ගවේෂණ වාර්තාව, මඩකලපුව දිස්ත්රික්කය. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

Also See

Map of the Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir

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Travelling Directions to Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir

Route from Polonnaruwa to Vadamunai Dastota Wewa Reservoir

Through: Manampitiya – Welikanda
Distance: 37 km
Travel time: 50 minutes
Driving directions : see on Google Maps

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