A town in Kosala, near the Himálaya. It has been given, free from all taxes (as brahmadeyya), to Pokkharasátí by the king of Kosala, in recognition of the former's skill. It was thickly populated and had much grassland, woodland and corn (D.i.87; DA.i.245). The Icchánangala wood was in the neighbourhood, and when the Buddha was staying in the wood Pokkharasátí first sent his pupil Ambattha and then went himself to visit the Buddha (see the Ambattha Sutta).
There was a road which connected Ukkatthá with Setavyá (A.ii.37) and with Vesáli (J.ii.259). Chatta goes from Setavyá to Ukkatthá to learn under Pokkharasátí (VvA.229).
It was in the Subhagavana at Ukkatthá that the Múlapariyáya Sutta (M.i.1ff) was preached and the Múlapariyáya Játaka (J.ii.259ff) was related in connection with it. Ukkatthá was the residence of Anganika-Bháradvája (ThagA.339).
Buddhaghosa explains (MA.i.9; AA.ii.504) that the city was so called because it was built by the light of torches (ukká) at night, in order that it might be completed within the auspicious time.
In the Brahmanimantika Sutta (M.i.326; but see S.i.142; J.iii.359), the Buddha says that it was while he was residing at Subhagavana that be became aware of the erroneous views of Baka-brahma and went to the Brahma-world to teach Baka the truth. The Divyávadána calls the city Ukkatá (p.621).