Nelum Pokuna
Nelum Pokuna
SRI LANKA, North Central Province, Polonnaruwa
Nelum Pokuna means Lotus Pond. It is located to the northeast of Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa, and is the most representative of lotus-shaped baths in the area. It is thought to have been built either by King Parakramabahu I (reigned 1153–1186) or King Nissanka Malla (reigned 1187–1196) for the monks from nearby Jetavanarama Monastery. As part of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The Lotus Pond is a stone bath built in the shape of an eight-petal lotus in full bloom in five concentric terraces. It has a depth of 1.4 m, and its diameter ranges from 7.5 m at the top to 1.6 m at the bottom. The unique design and delicate craftsmanship reflect the high quality of artistic innovation in Polonnaruwa in the 12th century.
For more details, go to the Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture M-S, page 792.
Cite this article:
author = Hsingyun and Youheng and Johnson, Peter and Mankuang and Lancaster, Lewis,
booktitle = {Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts: Architecture M-S},
pages = 792,
title = {{Nelum Pokuna}},
volume = 3,
year = {2016}}