Sri Lanka known to be a land enriched by the golden philosophy preached by the Lord Buddha is scattered with many fascinating monument dedicated to this great philosopher and sacred leader. Out of this, the 42 feet tall Avukana Buddha statue holds a special place in every Buddhist’s heart, the image also serving as an icon representing this teardrop of the Indian ocean to the rest of the world as well. It is located in the Kekirawa district and hence accommodation can be sought at the many Sri Lanka luxury hotels scattered across the area out of which Uga Escapes too offers a range of delightful Sri Lanka boutique hotels to indulge located quite close by to this resplendent statue known to be one of the best remaining examples for a standing Buddha statue constructed in the ancient Sri Lanka.
Located facing the Kala Wewa reservoir, this majestic statue is carved out of a large granite rock face and stands on a pedestal carved in the form of a lotus flower. Showcasing the ingenious craftsmanship of the ancient Sinhalese, the statue also shows some influence of the Gandhara and Amaravati Schools of art in its design. Buddha’s body is straight with the robe worn tightly, over the left shoulder leaving the right shoulder bare. While the left hand clutches at the robe on the left shoulder, the right hand is raised up in the Asisa mudra, with the palm of the hand facing left. The statue had originally been located in a shrine or in an image house of which the remaining walls made of brick and stone still remain. It is believed that this colossal image had measured at 74 feet (23 m) long and 63 feet in width.