Kuttam Pokuna is a pair of granite bathing pools built a generation apart within the Abhayagiri monastery complex, showcasing ancient Sri Lanka's advanced water filtration and hydraulic engineering skills.

Why visit Kuttam pokuna

• Advanced Hydraulic Engineering: The ponds showcase the sophisticated hydraulic engineering of ancient Sri Lanka. They feature an advanced system of underground ducts and filtration chambers that brought in and emptied water.
• Masterpiece of Ancient Art: The twin ponds are considered a masterpiece of ancient Sri Lankan art and architecture. The sides and bottom are lined with well-cut granite slabs, and the stairways are decorated with punkalas (pots of abundance) and scroll designs.
• Architectural Differences: The two ponds are not identical. The smaller northern pond is believed to be older. The punkalas and banisters of the larger, southern pond are more ornate.
• Symbolic Carvings: The northern pond is adorned with a sculpture of a five-hooded Naga (cobra) under a Makara Thorana (Dragon Arch). This reflects the symbolic use of animals and deities in ancient architecture.
• Complex Filtration System: Water was transported from a reservoir about 3 km away. Before entering the ponds, it passed through a silt trap and a filter system. The underground channel connecting the two ponds was designed so that water would filter from the smaller pond to the larger one.