Aukana Buddha statue, Sri LankaAukana Buddha statue, Sri Lanka (30 August, 2005)


Aukana Buddha (also written Avukana) is the tallest Buddha statue in Sri Lanka. Located 50 km (30 miles) from Mihintale, it is an architectural marvel of the ancient Sinhalese.

The face of the Aukana BuddhaThe face of the Aukana Buddha (30 August, 2005)

The Aukana Buddha is 39 feet tall, 10 feet across the shoulders, and stands on a decorated lotus plinth. The Buddha statue is believed to have been built during the period of King Dhatusena (459-477AD), although the style betrays it as being done during a later period.

The best time to view the Aukana Buddha statue is said to be dawn, when the first rays of the morning sun bring out the rich hues of the rock image and makes it appear to come alive against the deep green of the trees beyond. As the sun rises higher it reveals the serenity of the exquisitely carved face. As the sun rises higher still, it picks out the gracefully carved robe.

I arrived at the Aukana Buddha on the final day of our being in Anuradhapura. It was added to the itinerary because I specifically requested to visit it. As with all the Buddhist sites we have visited, we have to remove our shoes before entering through the gate into a compound. There was a bodhi tree, as is again customary.

The Aukana Buddha statue is covered out of a big rock, which forms a sort of hill behind it. There are ancient halls on both sides of the approach to the statue. At the foot of the Buddha is a sort of altar with offerings of flowers. I saw that bees have created a honeycomb which was hanging from the elbow of the statue.

Compound to the Aukana BuddhaCompound to the Aukana Buddha (30 August, 2005)


Stupa, Aukana BuddhaStupa on the grounds of the Aukana Buddha complex (30 August, 2005)


Flower offeringsFlower offerings at the feet of the colossal Aukana Buddha (30 August, 2005)


HoneycombHoneycomb hanging from the elbow of the statue (30 August, 2005)


My guide, Mr FernandezMy guide, Mr Fernandez, with the resident monk (30 August, 2005)


Tim at the Aukana BuddhaTim at the Aukana Buddha (30 August, 2005)

Goint there

The Aukana Buddha Temple is located south of Anuradhapura and west of Polonnaruwa. Get off the Kandy-Jaffna Highway (A9) at Thoniyagala, then head in a southwest direction on Route B423 (Tonigala-Kalawewa-Galewela Road), then turn off to your right at Avukana Road, which takes you to the temple, before the village of Avukana.

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Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.

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