In a significant act of cultural diplomacy, the Government of Sri Lanka presented a 27-foot replica of the Aukana (Avukana) standing Buddha statue to the state of Telangana in India. The gift was made under the Indo-Sri Lankan Cultural Exchange Programme and now stands as one of the centrepieces of Buddhavanam — formally known as the Sriparvatarama heritage theme park — at Nagarjunasagar in Telangana.
What is the Aukana Buddha, and why was it chosen?
The original Aukana Buddha is a monumental rock-carved statue dating to around the fifth century, located near the ancient Kala Wewa reservoir in Sri Lanka's North Central Province. Standing roughly 40 feet tall, it depicts the Buddha in the abhaya mudra — the gesture of protection — and is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of ancient Sri Lankan craftsmanship.
The statue was chosen for the donation precisely because of its iconic status. It represents the depth and antiquity of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka, making it a natural symbol for a project designed to celebrate Buddhist heritage across South Asia. The replica faithfully reproduces the pose, proportions, and surface treatment of the original, rendered at 27 feet to suit the park's meditation precinct.
Where is the replica installed?
The replica stands within Dhyanavanam, the meditation garden at the Sriparvatarama (Buddhavanam) heritage theme park in Nagarjunasagar, Nalgonda district, Telangana. Nagarjunasagar itself is historically significant: the region around the reservoir was once a major centre of ancient Buddhist civilisation, and excavations nearby have uncovered stupas, monasteries, and sculptural remains dating back over two millennia.
Buddhavanam is being developed by the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) as India's first dedicated Buddhist theme park. The site is designed to reconstruct and celebrate Buddhist sites and monasteries, drawing pilgrims and cultural tourists from across South and Southeast Asia.
What else did Sri Lanka donate to the park?
Alongside the Buddha statue, the Government of Sri Lanka also donated a Dhamma Bell to the Buddhavanam complex. The bell is a traditional symbol used in Buddhist ritual, and its presence reinforces the spiritual character of the site.
Beyond the initial donations, the Sri Lankan government expressed interest in constructing a dedicated Sinhala Vihara complex within the park's grounds. Such a vihara would bring Sri Lankan Buddhist architectural traditions — characterised by whitewashed dagobas, Bo tree shrines, and image houses — directly into the Indian context, creating a living example of the cross-cultural connections that define Theravada Buddhism's spread through Asia.
What is the significance of this cultural exchange?
Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage has long shaped religious and artistic traditions across Asia. Gifts of this kind — replicas of key monuments rather than the originals themselves — allow an ancient visual tradition to travel without disturbing the sites that embody it. Similar exchanges have taken place with countries including Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, reflecting the global reach of the Dharma as it spread from the Indian subcontinent.
For Sri Lanka, the donation is also a form of soft diplomacy. By contributing to a major Indian heritage project, the government reinforces bilateral ties while placing Sri Lankan craftsmanship in front of the millions of visitors Buddhavanam is expected to draw. The TSTDC has signalled that it anticipates strong interest from Buddhist organisations and governments across Southeast Asia in the coming years.
Within Sri Lanka, the tradition of Buddhist statuary is deep-rooted. Alongside the Aukana Buddha, other celebrated examples include the recumbent and standing figures at Polonnaruwa's Gal Vihara, carved directly from a single granite face — monuments that continue to draw pilgrims and scholars from around the world.
How is the original Aukana statue different from the replica?
The original statue is carved in high relief directly from a granite rock face, meaning it remains permanently attached to the bedrock — a technical achievement that has allowed it to endure for roughly fifteen centuries with relatively little structural deterioration. The replica at Nagarjunasagar is a free-standing constructed work designed to be installed within an open landscape garden, which required different engineering approaches while preserving the visual character of the original.
The abhaya mudra gesture of the right hand — palm outward, fingers pointing upward — is reproduced faithfully, as is the flame-shaped ushnisha (the cranial protuberance denoting the Buddha's spiritual attainment) at the crown. The replica thus serves as a genuine ambassador for the original, giving visitors in Telangana a sense of the scale and serenity of a monument they may never have had the opportunity to see in person.
Can visitors see the original Aukana Buddha statue in Sri Lanka?
The original Aukana statue is located near the town of Kekirawa in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, roughly 50 kilometres from Anuradhapura. It is accessible by road and is a popular stop on the cultural circuit that connects Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Sigiriya. The site is managed by the Central Cultural Fund, and a modest entrance fee applies for foreign visitors. The statue is best appreciated in the early morning when the light falls directly on the carved surface and the surroundings are quiet.
