Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya Monastery (ජේතවනාරාමයේ යතුරු පොකුණ II)

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Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya Monastery - ජේතවනාරාමයේ යතුරු පොකුණ II — Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya Monastery – ජේතවනාරාමයේ යතුරු පොකුණ II

Yathuru Pokuna literary means the Key Pond in English. These ponds are called as such since they take the shape of a key. There are 2 Yathuru Pokunas’ in the Jethawanaramaya Monastery (Yathuru Pokuna I and Yathuru Pokuna II) complex, one in Abhayagiri Monastery and one in Maha Vihara Complex close to the Ruwanweliseya.

Out of the four ponds, Yathuru Pokuna number 1 at Jethawanaramaya and the Jethawanaramaya Monastery has the best resemblance to a key. The staircase down to the pond starts from the bit part of the key and takes a sharp right-angle turn in the middle of the steps and the stairs continue along the shaft of the key. The circular pond at the end of the stairs represents the bow of the key. Yathuru Pokuna number II does have the bit part and the stairs start at the shaft of the key shape and travel directly to the pond.

The steps of the pond are made of granite and the side walls as well the pond are made of bricks. The pond gradually enlarges itself from the bottom to the top. According to the plaque at the site, it is believed that this is the pond that Aggabodhi II (608-618) built to supply the water needs of the Bodhigahara with the unique Buddhist Stone Railing of the Jethawanaramaya Monastery as per Mahavamsa.

The pond lies 50 meters southwest of the Bodhigahara with the unique Buddhist Railing Wall of the Jethawanaramaya Monastery as per Mahavamsa.

References

Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. p.139

Also See

Anuradhapura – The city of the God King

Map of Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya

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Driving Directions to Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya

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

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References

Also See

Map of Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya

Driving Directions to Yathuru Pokuna II (Key Pond) of Jetavanaramaya

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