Nuwara Wewa
The largest of Anuradhapura's ancient reservoirs, a broad sheet of water on the edge of the modern town, good for birdwatching and a breezy sunset.
The largest of Anuradhapura's three great ancient reservoirs, Nuwara Wewa is widely believed to have been constructed by King Vattagamini Abhaya, popularly known as King Valagamba, in the 1st century BCE. Governor Henry Ward, writing in 1856, described the reservoir as a marvellous work which must have occupied fifty thousand men for many years, a testament to just how staggering the scale of this engineering project appeared even to 19th century colonial administrators accustomed to their own era's infrastructure achievements.
Later records identify the reservoir under the name Nakara Vapi during the reign of King Gaja Bahu I in the 2nd century CE, when it was substantially enlarged and improved, and during the reign of King Moggallana II in the 6th century, an additional feeder channel was cut from the nearby Nachchaduwa reservoir specifically to boost its capacity further still. Designed primarily to support irrigation and supply water to the monasteries and suburban areas surrounding Anuradhapura, the reservoir's hydraulic system originally featured two separate sluice gates, a sophisticated design reflecting the same advanced engineering principles found throughout the ancient city's broader water management network.
Today, walking along the raised banks of Nuwara Wewa offers one of the finest views anywhere in Anuradhapura, the ancient city's great stupas visible rising above the surrounding forest canopy from across the water, a genuinely striking vantage point that ties together the reservoir's practical, life-sustaining purpose with the grand religious architecture its waters helped make possible in the first place.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free
- Opening hours: Open all day
- Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
- Best time: Sunset
Getting there
On the eastern side of Anuradhapura town.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Nuwara Wewa?
- Free.
- What are the opening hours at Nuwara Wewa?
- Open all day.
- How long should I spend at Nuwara Wewa?
- Plan for 30 to 45 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Nuwara Wewa?
- Sunset.
- How do I get to Nuwara Wewa?
- On the eastern side of Anuradhapura town.