Avukana Buddha Statue

Near Kekirawa, North Central Province, Sri Lanka

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The Avukana Buddha Statue is a large, ancient standing Buddha carved out of a single granite rock face near the village of Avukana, close to Kekirawa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka.

It stands about 12–14 meters (roughly 40–46 feet) tall and is considered one of the tallest and finest examples of a standing Buddha image in the country, dating back probably to the 5th century CE. The statue shows the Buddha with his right hand raised in a variation of the abhaya mudra, a gesture of protection and reassurance, and it originally stood within or near a now‑lost temple that once sheltered it.

Located in a quiet, forested area overlooking the ancient Kala Wewa reservoir, the Avukana Buddha is both a major Buddhist pilgrimage site and a popular tourist attraction, admired for its imposing scale, serene expression, and intricate sculptural detail.