Kuttam Pokuna

Kuttam Pokuna (twin ponds or pools) are well preserved old bathing tanks or ponds in Sri Lanka. This pair of ponds was built by the Sinhalese in the ancient Anuradhapura Kingdom. They form part of the Abhayagiri vihāra complex and are an example of the works in the field of hydrological engineering, architecture and art of the ancient Sinhalese.

Location

On a map of the Abhayagiri vihāra complex over thirty bodies of water can be counted. The largest of these is the Eth Pokuna (Elephant Pond). The Kuttam Pokuna are located on the eastern edge of the complex.

History

Not much is known about the history of these ponds. They are generally believed to be built during the reign of king Aggabodhi I of Anuradhapura (575-608).Kuttam Pokuna
by Lanka Pradeepa, 3 November 2020, retrieved 21 December 2021 The Central Cultural Fund, Colombo, Sri Lanka, however, names the eighth or ninth century as the time of building.Anuradhapura
by Central Cultural Fund, Colombo, Sri Lanka, retrieved 21 December 2021

The name ''Twin Ponds'' is misleading, because they are not of the same age: The smaller northern pond (see below) is said to be older than the larger southern pond.

Gallery

File:Twin ponds (Kuttam Pokuna).jpg, View of the ponds from the north
File:Kuttam pokuna - Le filtre - Sri Lanka (7696052830).jpg, The filter system
File:Kuttam pokuna - Stéle Naga et arrivée d'eau - bassin nord - Sri Lanka (7696054646).jpg, Nāga sculpture and stone spout in north pond
File:Kuttam Pokuna ponds in the ancient city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.jpg, North pond from the south
File:Double Tank, Abhayagiri 0119.jpg, South pond from the south

Architecture

The compound

The two ponds are built in a deep, rectangular depression lined with a low wall. Five short stairs lead from the ground level into it. Next to one of these short stairs, in the northwest corner of the compound, a stone spout protrudes from the wall. According to older descriptions of the twin ponds the spout was supported by a small sculpture of a lion. However in recent photographs there is no sign of such a sculpture. The spout is the overflow of a small cistern on the other side of the wall.Architectural remains, Anurádhapura, Ceylon: comprising the Dágabas and certain other ancient ruined structures. Measured, drawn and described by James G. Smither, published by the Ceylon Government, 1894The Buried Cities of Ceylon: A Guide to Anuradhapura and Pollonarua
by Stephen Montagu Burrows (second edition), A.M. & J. Ferguson, 1894, retrieved 12 January 2022

The ponds

The larger, southern pond is by , while the smaller, northern pond is by . The depths of the two ponds is and for the smaller pond and the larger pond respectively. The space between wall surrounding the compound and the two ponds is .Anuradhapura
by Dr. Rohan Hettiarachchi, Virtual Library Sri Lanka, retrieved 20 November 2021

A parapet was built around each of the ponds. The faces of the ponds are cut granite slabs as are the bottom and the sides of the ponds. The ponds are made wider at the top than at the bottom, giving them a stepped slope, with steps too narrow to descend. Flights of stairs are seen on the northern and southern ends of the ponds. The southern pond has an additional flight of stairs on the western side. Unlike the other stairs, these do not protrude from the side of the pond. The stairs lead to the bottom of the pond and are decorated with punkalas, or pots of abundance, and scroll design.Water Architecture in South Asia: A Study of Types Developments and Meanings by Julia A. B. Hegewald, Brill, Studies in Asian Art and Archaeology No. 24, Leiden, 2002, Letters from Sri Lanka – Greywater Recycling at Kuttam Pokuna (the Twin Pools)
by Craig Mackintosh, Permaculture Research institute, August 12, 2009, retrieved 22 November 2021Kuttam Pokuna (twin pond)
by Visit Anuradhapura, retrieved 22 November 2021

Although the ponds look very much alike at first glance, there are marked differences. The punkalas of the larger pond are more ornate, for example, and so are the banisters of the stairs (see below). The sides of the large pond also have terraces on several levels, which are broad enough to walk or sit on and can be reached from the stairs.

The northern side of the small pond is adorned with a sculpture of a five-hooded cobra (Nāga) under an arch of makaras. Another makara shape can still be recognised in the nearby stone spout.

The silt trap

Outside the parapet of the small pond, there is a silt trap. The outlet of this structure towards the stone spout in the pond wall is above the bottom.

Underground channel

A stone underground channel of wide, high and feet, below the surface, connects both ponds. Because the opening into the channel is well above the bottom of the smaller pond, this would act as a filtering mechanism for the larger pond.

Water flow

Water was transported from a rainwater reservoir over a distance for to the ponds through underground ducts. Before the water entered the northern pond via the stone spout in the northern wall, it passed through the filter system. Through an underground duct the water passed from the north pond to the south pond. Eventually the water was drained from both ponds through a drain on the bottom of the small pond, to be used to water nearby rice fields.Abhayagiri Vihara - The Northem Monastery (Uttararamaya)
by Dr. Rohan Hettiarachchi, Virtual Library Sri Lanka, retrieved 20 November 2021Kuttam Pokuna
by Lanka Travel Directory, retrieved 24 November 2021

The ponds themselves were used by the Abhayagiri vihāra monks to bathe.
by Dr. Rohan Hettiarachchi, Virtual Library Sri Lanka, retrieved 20 November 2021Kuttam Pokuna
by Lanka Travel Directory, retrieved 24 November 2021 However, some sources speak of the baths being used by kings and queens.

Restoration

File:Kuttam Pokuna 7949779766.jpg, Stairs of northern pond ±1870
File:Kuttam Pokuna 7949780064.jpg, Stairs of southern pond ±1870
File:Kuttam Pokuna in 1896 7949854100.jpg, Unrestored southern pond
File:Kuttam Pokuna in 1897.jpg, Partly restored southern pond ±1896
File:NO-NB BLDSA GM2a26n.jpg, Kuttam Pokuna in 1923

After having been left unattended for centuries, part of the Kuttam Pokuna was restored by Robert Wilson Ievers ( Government Agent of the North Central Province) during the period 1885 to 1892.Kuttam Pokuna (twin ponds)
by Thilina Deepthi Karunachandra, 2018, retrieved 26 November 2021The Buried Cities of Ceylon: A Guide to Anuradhapura and Pollonarua
by Stephen Montagu Burrows (first edition), A.M. & J. Ferguson, 1885, retrieved 29 December 2021Ceylon in 1893
by John Ferguson, John Haddon and A.M. & J. Ferguson, 1893, retrieved 22 December 2021 Unfortunately, several of the large parapet stones of the northern pond were used to restore the lower eastern side of the southern pond. Because of this, not all stones could be placed in their original positions during the later full restoration (see below).

Between 1950 and 1955 the ponds were fully restored, including the surrounding compound wall. Most of the original punkalas turned out to be missing. They had either been stolen or destroyed. These punkalas were replaced by faithful, concrete copies of the ones that were found on the site. The underground drain was left unrestored.

Dr. Senarath Paranavithana, Archaeological Commissioner of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka from 1940 to 1956, was actively involved in the restoration of the ponds. During the restoration activities, a metal pot was found on the bottom of one of the ponds. In it were some small figurines, like a frog, a tortoise, a crab, several fish, a metal conch and a dancing woman.Dr. Senarath Paranavithana
by Andrew Scott, Virtual Library Sri Lanka, 8 January 2003, retrieved 24 November 2021 These artifacts are now in the Anuradhapura Museum.

See also

*Abhayavapi
*Dhunge dhara
*Pathaha Pokuna
*Ranmasu Uyana
*Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura)

References

External links

Discover Sri lanka - More information & images about Kuttam Pokuna

360 degrees views of Kuttam Pokuna
on YouTube

Anuradhapura
Archaeological protected monuments in Anuradhapura District
Tourist attractions in Anuradhapura District

{{coord missing, Sri Lanka