Avukana Buddha
A standing Buddha more than 14 metres tall near Kekirawa, one hand raised in a gesture of reassurance. It is counted among the finest standing statues made in ancient Sri Lanka.
- Where
- Kekirawa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- 8.0228, 80.5203
Get the Avukana Buddha stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Avukana Buddha. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your North Central Province volume with your photos and a note.
Near Avukana Buddha
Ritigala 18 km
A forested mountain in central Sri Lanka, 43 km from Anuradhapura, that hides the ruins of an ancient Buddhist monastery. Its rock inscriptions date back to the 1st century BCE, and stone paths and platforms lie scattered under the trees.
Dambulla Cave Temple 23 km
A cave temple high on a rock above Dambulla, a World Heritage Site since 1991. Its five caves are filled with Buddha statues and their ceilings are painted edge to edge with murals, a shrine that has been in use for more than two thousand years.
Sigiriya 27 km
A granite column about 180 metres high rising out of the plain near Dambulla, crowned with the ruins of a 5th century royal citadel. Climbers pass painted frescoes and the polished Mirror Wall, then a pair of giant lion's paws, before the last stairs to the summit.
Pidurangala Rock 27 km
An ancient Buddhist temple on a rock about 1 km north of Sigiriya. The path climbs past the temple and a reclining Buddha to a bare summit with the best view of Sigiriya itself, which makes it a favourite climb at sunrise.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress 32 km
A medieval citadel built around a granite rock that rises almost 100 metres from the plains, midway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura, and for a short time a royal capital. A steep ornamental stairway guarded by carved stone lions climbs towards the top.
Mihintale 36 km
A hill near Anuradhapura where, by tradition, the monk Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa and so brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Stone stairs climb past shrines, stupas and ruins to the summit, still a place of pilgrimage.
Minneriya National Park 37 km
A park around the ancient Minneriya tank, built by King Mahasen in the 3rd century AD. In the dry season elephants from the forests of Matale, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee gather on its shrinking shores to feed.
Isurumuniya 38 km
A temple built against the boulders beside the Tissa Wewa in Anuradhapura, known for its stone carvings. The finest are a pair of embracing lovers, elephants carved above a pond and a group known as the Royal Family.
More hidden gems in North Central Province
Questions
Where is Avukana Buddha?
Avukana Buddha is in Kekirawa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Ritigala (18 km), Dambulla Cave Temple (23 km), Sigiriya (27 km).
How do I get the Avukana Buddha stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Avukana Buddha and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your North Central Province volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Avukana Buddha before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your North Central Province volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.