The Ran Masu Uyana is a pleasure garden of the ancient royals of Sri Lanka and is found between the Tissawewa and the Isurumuniya temple in Anuradhapura. The garden, an ideal example of ancient Sri Lanka’s garden architecture, is spread over 40 acres. Rock sculptured bathing ponds The Ran Masu Uyana, a protected archeological site, was mainly known for its rock sculptured bathing ponds with a sophisticated hydraulic mechanism.
A subtle use of pressure enables the pumping of water from the nearby Tissa Wewa to the swimming ponds of the garden. The ponds display a clever use of technology and craftsmanship in constructing a flawless luxury swimming facility nearly 3,000 years ago. Even before Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka in the 3rd Century BCE, ponds were a definite feature of city planning.
Some of these parks are the Mahamegha park set up by King Mutaseeva and the Nandana park. With the arrival of Mahinda Thera in 250 BCE, King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BCE) donated all these parks to the Sangha. The Wessagiriya slab inscription of King Mahinda IV reveals many details of the unique constructional technique of the Ran Masu Uyana which is considered to be a marvel of ancient water management in Sri Lanka.
According to epigraphic disclosure, water through the main sluice gate was first taken to the Ran Masu Uyana and then diverted to the play house (Kadali Griha) and then to the garden pond and the water lily pond. Finally it was released to paddy fields in the surroun.