Asokaramaya (Pankuliya Buddha Statue)
Samadhi Buddha Statue at Pankuliya Asokaramaya
with the recently built roof above it
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Large amount of stone columns of buildings
in the visinity
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Steps at a entrance to a building. The Moonstone
is blank but the guard stones are realy beautiful
(see next pictutre)
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closeup of the left guardstone
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The same statue with the guard stone and the ancient pillars which held the roof long ago
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Asokaramaya is located in a beautiful surrounding in the village
of Pankuliya. This is a fairly unknown site to the average pilgrim but has one
of the best carved Buddha statues in the country today. This statute equals
the quality of the famous Samadhi Statue and
the Tholuvila statue (which is now kept in the Colombo museum). This statue
is also known as Pankuliya Buddha statue. But unfortunately this area has been
rather neglected recently and not visited by pilgrims.
In addition to this very fine statue Asokaramaya is surrounded by now ruined
long columned buildings with beautiful guard stones and a pool. This is
thought to be a nunnery and the original name of this site is not known.
This statue is said to belong to the 9-10th century and is made of dolomite.
The eyes are hollow indicating that they have been studded with precious stones
in the past. The statue is 6feet 9 inches (2 metres) in heightOctober 5, 2008protected by a concrete structure with a roof rather destroying
the real beauty of the statue.
This site can be accessed through the road leading to famous Galpalama.
You can ask directions from the villagers once you fall on to the road. The
road leading to this temple ends at a paddy field. Form there you have to walk
across the paddy field on a foot path to reach this site.
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Updated
October 5, 2008
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