Kaludiya Pond

Mihintale, Sri Lanka

Kaludiya Pokuna, meaning "Black Water Pond," is a 10th century, man-made, body of water. Its name refers to the dark reflections of the surrounding forest and hills on the surface of the pool. The remnants of a monastic building occupy the lake shore in this photograph; monks lived in caves on the hillside, or elsewhere in the monastery near the lake (following pages).