AUKANA CAVES

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A a group of unspecified caves bear inscriptions dated to the 1st century A.D. (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 249; 1983: 251). SITUATION: Somewhere near the ancient shrine of Aukana, Avukana, Awukane, or Awukane Vihare (N08°01': E080°31'), and about 4 km from the bund (dam) of the Kalawewa tank or water reservoir. APPROACH: To reach Aukana bear left [north-west] at Kekirawa [note 1] on the Dambulla - Anruradhapura road, and left [south-west] again 3.5 miles [5.6 km] beyond. A little past Vijithapura [note 2], once an ancient capital, you drive on the 3.5 mile long, wind-swept bund of the Kalawewa [N08°01': E080°33']. … Turn right at the spill and the colossus of Aukana is just two miles [3.2 km] away (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 116).A a group of unspecified caves bear inscriptions dated to the 1st century A.D. (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 249; 1983: 251). SITUATION: Somewhere near the ancient shrine of Aukana, Avukana, Awukane, or Awukane Vihare (N08°01': E080°31'), and about 4 km from the bund (dam) of the Kalawewa tank or water reservoir. APPROACH: To reach Aukana bear left [north-west] at Kekirawa [note 1] on the Dambulla - Anruradhapura road, and left [south-west] again 3.5 miles [5.6 km] beyond. A little past Vijithapura [note 2], once an ancient capital, you drive on the 3.5 mile long, wind-swept bund of the Kalawewa [N08°01': E080°33']. … Turn right at the spill and the colossus of Aukana is just two miles [3.2 km] away (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1983: 116).