Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur in Jaffna (යාපනය නල්ලුර් යමුණා ඒරි පුරාණ පොකුණ)

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Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur
photo by : Vignuthan Maheswaranathan

Yamuna Eri is a “U” shaped pond lying in the vicinity of the Poothathamby Arch (Sangili Toppu) and the Ruins of the Sangiliyan Mansion in Nallur. Although now isolated they would have been part of the same building complex at one time.

Yalpana Vaipava Malai, a book composed in 1736 by a Tamil resident of Jaffna on the instructions of Class Isaakz, the Dutch Dissava of the district, this pond was built during the regional ruler Cinkai Ariyan Cekaracacekaran I (1215–1240). The text describes this pond and how Cekaracacekaran mixed the water of this tank with the water brought from the sacred Yamuna River in India.

Prof. P. Pushparatnam and Thuraisingam Kandiah contradict the above, stating that the pond is the work of Cinkai Pararacacekaran (1478-1519) who brought the Holy water from the Holy River Yamuna in India to invoke the blessings of the gods in 1478. (Pushparatnam, 2014)(Kandiah, 2014)

At present, the pond is surrounded by paddy fields coconut palms and several houses. The pond is built with limestone blocks and bricks in the shape of the Tamil letter, “ப”. Stone steps have been laid to walk to the bottom of the pond to make access to water convenient.

It is said the centre of the “ப” has had a flower garden in the past. Many legends are woven around this pond. It is sad that a tunnel existed connecting this pond and the Manthiri Manai a few hundred meters away and the rulers and their families have bathed in this pond.

References

Pushparatnam, p (2014) Tourism and Monuments of Archaeological Heritage in Northern Sri Lanka. Jaffna Sri Lanka: Department of History, University of Jaffna.
Kandiah, T. (2014) Ancient Hindu Temples of Sri Lanka.

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Map of Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur

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Traveling directions to Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur

Jaffna can be reached through two principal routes. The most commonly used approach is via Elephant Pass, which has long served as the traditional gateway to the Jaffna Peninsula.

An alternative route reaches Jaffna from the direction of Pooneryn by crossing the Sangupiddy Bridge. This crossing follows what was historically the ancient route to the peninsula before the construction of modern highways. The route provides a connection between Jaffna and the Mannar region.

Route 01 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Kurunegala (Popular Route)	Route 02 from Colombo to Jaffna Through Puttalam and Pooneryn (Lesser Traveled Route)
Through : Kurunegala – Dambulla – Anuradhapura – Vavuniya Distance: 410 km Travel Time: 7-8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.	Through: Puttalam – Thantirimale – Mannar – Poonaryn Distance: 408 km Travel Time: 8 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.

Travel directions from Jaffna town to Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur

Distance : 29 km
Travel time : 45 mins
Time to spend : 15-30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur

Traveling directions to Yamuna Eri Ancient Pond at Nallur

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