Introduction
One of the best specimen of bathing tanks or pools in ancient Sri Lanka is the pair
of pools known as "Kuttam Pokuna" (Twin Ponds/Pools). The said pair of pools were
built by the Sinhalese in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. These are considered
one of the significant achievements in the field of hydrological engineering and
outstanding architectural and artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese. A garden
was landscaped which separates the two ponds which long is 5.6 m The larger pool
of the two is 40.23 m by 15.54 m, while the smaller pool is 27.73 m by 15.54 m.
The depths of the two pools is 4.26 and 5.48 m for the smaller pool and the larger
pool respectively. The faces of the pools were cut granite slabs which includes
the bottom and the sides of the pool. A wall was also built around the pool which
encloses the compound. Flights of steps are seen on both ends of the pool decorated
with punkalas, or pots of abundance and scroll design. Embankments were constructed
to enable monks to bathe using pots or other utensils. Water to the pools were transferred
through underground ducts and filtered before flowing to the pool and in a similar
fashion the water was emptied. Dr. Senerath Paranavithana was actively involved
in the restoration of the ponds, in which small figures of fish, a conch, a crab
and a dancing woman were found in the bottom.
|