{"id":112411,"date":"2023-04-20T05:57:08","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T05:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=112411"},"modified":"2023-04-20T05:57:56","modified_gmt":"2023-04-20T05:57:56","slug":"kok-doowa-island-paradise-for-avifauna-aficianados-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/kok-doowa-island-paradise-for-avifauna-aficianados-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cKok Doowa Island\u201d \u2013 paradise for avifauna aficianados – By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cKok Doowa Island\u201d \u2013 paradise for avifauna aficianados – <\/strong>By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ArundathieA small rocky island located in the enormous *Parakrama Samudraya Reservoir in Polonnaruwa constructed by *King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) is a paradise for birdwatchers. During the nesting season of birds (from February to May) that coincides with the start of the monsoon, this tiny island turns home to thousands of nests, a birdwatchers\u2019 paradise, a mesmerizing site\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cKok Doowa\u201d meaning the \u2018island of storks\u2019 due to large numbers of birds, especially, storks (Ciconiidae<\/em>) nesting on the rock, the island is visited not only by birds, but by elephants, especially those crossing Parakrama Samudraya.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the dry season, when the water levels of the reservoir decreases, visitors can walk across the water towards the island. Yet, when water levels are high, services of a fisherman\u2019s boat to reach the island is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

The island has two summits, approximately 200 meters in diameter, of which ruins of the stupa <\/em>(dagoba<\/em>) are located on the southeastern summit and the building ruins are on the northwestern summit. There is also a bathhouse towards the west of the stupa<\/em> along with a retaining wall trace towards the south. At present, there are seven stones with a side of a stone measuring approximately 60 centimeters. Due to years of being subjected to harsh weather conditions, the scale and shape of the stones are unknown, but scholars are of the view that these are traces of a retaining wall that has been constructed on a site similar to a terrace with only one side molded. Moreover, there are small holes for furnaces or cast iron located under the slopes on the east and southeast sides of the stupa<\/em>. Scholars are of the view that iron production would have taken place at this location, in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ruined stupa<\/em> has a diameter of approximately 12 meters and at present, it is a mound of earth. Treasure hunters have dug a four-meter (wide) trench in search of treasures and as a result, the center of the stupa<\/em> has a gap. There are pieces of bricks covered with lime plaster among the debris that would have covered the dome of the stupa<\/em>, in the past.<\/span><\/p>\n

A mesmerizing site at the location is the rectangular pool dug directly into the bedrock with a staircase for climbing down on the southern edge. Currently, there are six steps at the location. Many visitors consider the pool an infinity pool, perhaps the earliest infinity pool that has been constructed in Sri Lanka\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Sports<\/a><\/p>\n

Directions:<\/strong> Enter Parakrama Samudraya from Polonnaruwa Museum and travel approximately 4.5 kilometers along the bund.\u00a0 Kok Doowa Island is situated 400 meters from the reservoir.<\/span><\/p>\n