Kekirawa: Gateway to the Towering Aukana Buddha
Kekirawa is a busy junction town in the north-central dry zone, handy for travellers exploring the cultural triangle. Its main draw sits just outside town: the Aukana Buddha, a magnificent standing statue carved from a single granite rock over a thousand years ago.
The Aukana Buddha
The Aukana statue stands around twelve metres tall, carved in the Abhaya mudra and famed for its fine proportions. Legend says a drop of water from the nose falls exactly between the feet, a mark of its precision.
Sasseruwa nearby
A short distance away, the Sasseruwa (Ras Vehera) Buddha, an older and unfinished rock statue, is often visited alongside Aukana, tied together by local legend.
Getting there
Kekirawa lies between Dambulla and Anuradhapura, easily reached by bus or car, and makes a quick detour on a cultural-triangle loop.
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