POLONNARUWA
The well-preserved ruins of Polonnaruwa, the royal medieval capital of Sri Lanka in 1073, are one of the most prominent cultural locations in the country. First a military base for invading South Indian Chola tribes until they were overthrown by King Vijayabahu in 1070, Polonnaruwa was eventually created by King Parakramabahu I into a town and became the capital of the country until the early 13th century.
ATTRACTIONS IN POLONNARUWA
GAL VIHARA
The Gal Vihara, also known as Gal Viharaya and originally known as the Uttararama, is a Buddha’s rock temple located in the ancient town of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. Parakramabahu I fashioned it in the 12th century. The temple’s main characteristic is four Buddha rock relief sculptures carved into the face of a big granite rock.
POLONNARUWA VATADAGE
The Vatadage of Polonnaruwa is an ancient structure that dates back to Sri Lanka’s Polonnaruwa Kingdom. It is thought that during the reign of Parakramabahu I was constructed to hold the Buddha’s tooth relic or during the reign of Polonnaruwa’s Nissanka Malla to hold the Buddha’s alms bowl.
POLONNARUWA LANKATHILAKA IMAGE HOUSE
Polonnaruwa Lankathilaka Image House is a monolithic Buddha house constructed on the south side of Kiri Vehera by King Parakramabahu (1153-1186). The house is full with bricks and the exterior walls are covered with sophisticated designs and sculptures. The statue of the Buddha is also produced entirely of clay bricks and it was 41 feet high.
SANDAKADA PAHANA (THE MOON STONE)
Sandakada pahanas are semi-circular stone slabs, elaborately sculpted and generally discovered at the bottom of staircases and entrances. But Polonnaruwa’s ruins show distinctive departures from this ancient and beautiful Sinhalese architectural custom’s traditional characteristics.
THIVANKA IMAGE HOUSE
Thivanka Pilimage image house and original wall paintings, classical art and carvings in their initial form are undoubtedly a highlight of any visit to Polonnaruwa’s ruins. Built by King Parakramabahu (1153–1186) as part of the Jethavanarama Complex, it involves an imposing Buddha sculpture curved in three locations, hence the name ‘ Thivanka.’ The sheer quantity, style and quality on display led one art
STATUE OF PARAKRAMABAHU OR PULASTYA RISHI
The magnificent statue of 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m), sculpted from a rock face just north of Polonnaruwa’s primary ruins, is a source of mystery and speculation. It is believed to portray either King Parakramabahu I himself or perhaps a famous 12th-century sage. It is definitely an impressive figure, a grave of face, holding in his two hands what might be a book.
GAL-POTHA STONE BOOK
A massive slab 26 ft 10ins (8.2 m) long and 4 ft 7ins (1.4 m) broad, the Gal Potha, or Stone Book, is literally a cornerstone showing some of Polonnaruwa’s history. The text— three columns, 72 lines and 4,300 characters— is the king’s own character reference to himself, created by King Nissanka Malla, who ruled from 1187 to 1196.
WEIJANTHA PRASADA (ROYAL PALACE)
King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186) built the Weijantha Prasada as a majestic 1,000-room, seven-story palace with all the trappings of his luxurious royal life. The structure is enclosed by massive walls over a meter thick and 30 ft (9 m) high, including a 150-foot-square central building with its pillared hall, 102 ft long and 42 ft high. Much of Plonnaruwa’s history is written in what remains of the ancient stone and
RANKOTH VEHERA
Rankoth Vehera is the largest stupa in the ruins of Polonnaruwa at 108 ft (33 m), and one of the most revered. It was built in the same style as the Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura, built with bricks long before being substantially renovated by King Nissanka Malla, who reigned from 1187 to 1196.
NISSANKA LATHA MANDAPAYA
A distinctive characteristic of Polonnaruwa’s ruins and their sacred architectural heritage are the stone columns Nissanka Latha Mandapaya— not straight, but curved in three places. Built by King Nissanka Malla (1187–1196), this impressive monumental structure was used for the chanting of Buddhist scriptures according to a neighboring stone inscription. The columns of the building are the best known examples of this element of ancient Sri Lankan architecture, according to leading Sri Lankan archeologist Senarath Paranavithana.
SATHMAHAL PRASADA
More mystery in Polonnaruwa’s history, this time found inside the Dalada Maluwa in the distinctive stepped-pyramid form of the Sathmahal Prasada stupa. Legend has it that this seven-story building was built for Cambodian troops who worked for the then king, reflecting the style of comparable structures found in Cambodia and Thailand.
LOTUS POND
The lotus pond is a beautiful and beautifully built granite bathing pool located just outside Polonnaruwa’s primary ruins. Created in the form of an eight-petalled flower of blooming lotus, this jewel of pokuna architecture is off the beaten tourist path in a romantic and quiet garden-like environment.
HATADAGE
Legend has it that this splendid building was finished in just 60 hours in the center of the ruins of Polonnaruwa and that it initially housed the Buddha’s Relic of the Tooth. Built of brick and wood under King Nissanka Malla’s reign (1187–1196), only part of the ground floor now remains, including an inner sanctuary containing three Buddha granite statues.
KIRI VEHERA
A queen of King Parakramabahu, who reigned from 1153 to 1186, is said to have built the 80 ft (25 m) Kiri Vehera, which lies west of the Lankathilaka Pilima Ge picture house and is the second biggest stupa at Polonnaruwa. One of the many sacred buildings that make up Polonnaruwa’s ruins, the Kiri Vehera is also the only one that has survived since it was built in its original condition, almost 900 years ago.
ATADAGE
Atadage Dalada Maligaya is the house constructed by King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110) of the Buddha’s tooth relic. The building is constructed on 54 pillars of stone. The tooth relic was likely produced of timber on the second floor. The second floor access is through a case of granite stairs. There are still few steps left of this staircase that led to the building’s upper chamber. At the bottom there were three Buddha statues and only one core remains today. This is also believed to be King Vijayabahu I’s only remaining building.