What is the giant Aukana Buddha statue?

The Aukana Buddha is this massive, 12-metre (39-foot) tall standing statue, carved straight out of a single solid granite rock face, and it was made during the 5th century. It sits in the North Central Province and is widely regarded as one of the finest, as well as the most perfectly proportioned, ancient examples of Sri Lankan stone masonry.

What really stands out are the extremely intricate details, especially the clinging, draped robe. The carving is done with such precision that it looks like it is rippling in the wind, even when nothing moves. And in local architectural lore, the alignment is so flawlessly balanced that if a drop of water falls from the Buddha’s nose, it will fall directly down and land exactly between the carved toes.