Kumara Pokuna

The Kumara Pokuna (Sinhala: කුමාර පොකුණ) is a royal bath situated in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. It is located to the southeast of the Council Chamber of Parakramabahu I.

History

The great chronicle, Mahawamsa records this pond as "Sila Pokkharani" built by King Parakramabahu I [(1153-1186 A.D.) Ray, 1960]. Although the site is located outside of the citadel, it may have belonged to King Parakramabahu's royal park named "Nandana Uyana".

Pond

The pond which is built with a cruciform ground plan has been finished with elegantly smoothed stone slabs. The pond is about 44 ft. long and 38 ft. wide at the surface level and its dimension is reducing toward the bottom of the pond (Ray, 1960). A flight of steps on the western side of the pond provides the access to the bath. The water which comes from the moat at the foot of the citadel wall reaches the pond along an underground passage and falls into the pond through dragon-mouthed conduits fixed on the inner walls (Ray, 1960). The used water is drained off through a specific outlet which is controlled with a stone nail (Wikramagamage, 2004).

The ruins of the moulded platform of a small pavilion which are located south of the pond are thought to be the "Salu Mandapaya" (the changing room) for those who were privileged to use this bath (Paranavitana, 1950; Ray, 1960; Wikramagamage, 2004). An elegantly carved Sandakada Pahana (a moonstone) can be seen at the entrance of this pavilion (Wikramagamage, 2004).

Attribution

References

1) Paranavitana, S. 1950. Guide to Polonnaruwa. Govt Press, Colombo. pp.9-10.

2) Ray, H. C. (Editor in Chief), 1960. University of Ceylon: History of Ceylon (Vol 1, part II). Ceylon University Press. p.603.

3) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. pp.207-208.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 14 November 2022