Kuttam Pokuna Twin Ponds, Anuradhapura

Kuttam Pokuna (29 August, 2005)

The Kuttam Pokuna, which means Twin Ponds, is a beautiful set of bathing ponds located in Abhayagiri, in northern Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. These ponds were built in 6th-8th century Anuradhapura. If you look at these two seemingly identical ponds, you will realise that one is larger than the other (by about 12 m in length). Nevertheless, the ponds of Kuttam Pokuna are positioned in such a way that they appear almost identical. Although the design and lines of the Kuttam Pokuna are simple, the effect is nothing less than impressive.

The Kuttam Pokuna is one of the ancient sites that I visited when I explored the ancient city of Anuradhapura with members of AsiaExplorers. While other sights in Anuradhapura are bigger, Kuttam Pokuna is certainly one of the loveliest. Not only is it still functional, it was also built with an eye for beauty. What I particularly adore are the rotund features, called punkala, meaning "pot of plenty" placed at the top of the stairs going down to the ponds.

View inside a pond at Kuttam Pokuna (29 August, 2005)

Kuttam Pokuna was built as the bathing ponds for the monks of Abhayagiri Monastery in northern Anuradhapura. The water is channelled through a sophisticated system of filtration to gush out of a lion's head. At the far end of the Kuttam Pokuna ponds is a system to trap mud and dirt. When water flows into the pit, mud and dirt sink to the bottom, ensuring that clean water flows into the Kuttam Pokuna ponds.

Monks in ancient Abhayagiri Monastery performed their ablutions under the protective gaze of a five-hooded naga, the cobra believed to bring good fortune. Steps lead down to the two ponds while around them are shallow pools to cool off one's feet before diving in. The Kuttam Pokuna demostrates not only great engineering feat by also workmanship and artistry of the ancient Sinhalese builders.