{"id":1396,"date":"2015-09-18T09:06:04","date_gmt":"2015-09-18T01:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/?p=1396"},"modified":"2020-05-26T11:11:22","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T03:11:22","slug":"7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Cultural Wonders of Polonnaruwa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Keep your eyes wide open, as you take in the wondrous sights of these <strong>seven cultural attractions<\/strong> in captivating Polonnaruwa!<\/em><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Gal-Viharaya-Polonnaruwa-150x150.jpg\" src-medium=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Gal-Viharaya-Polonnaruwa-300x169.jpg\" src-large=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Gal-Viharaya-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" src-full=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Gal-Viharaya-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Gal-Viharaya-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" alt=\"Gal Viharaya Polonnaruwa\" title=\"\" height=\"253\" width=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1504 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#1_Gal_Viharaya\" >1. Gal Viharaya<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#2_Lanka_Thilaka_Image_House\" >2. Lanka Thilaka Image House<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#3_Medirigiriya_Vatagade\" >3. Medirigiriya Vatagade<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#4_Weijantha_Prasada\" >4. Weijantha Prasada<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#5_Nissanka_Latha_Mandapaya\" >5. Nissanka Latha Mandapaya<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#6_Lotus_Pond\" >6. Lotus Pond<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/7-cultural-wonders-of-polonnaruwa\/#7_Polonnaruwa_Vatadage\" >7. Polonnaruwa Vatadage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Gal_Viharaya\"><\/span>1. Gal Viharaya<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The beautiful carvings of four different Buddha images etched onto a single, large slab of granite\u00a0makes <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d3600925-Reviews-Gal_Vihara-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Gal Viharaya<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0a worthwhile travel spot not to\u00a0be missed. One of the most visited monuments in Polonnaruwa, the carving depicts Buddha in four different positions. The standing figure, towering at a height of seven metres, reveals an unusual arm positioning and a sorrowful expression. A reclining image, measuring a lengthy fourteen metres shows Buddha entering a state of Nirvana after death, while the remaining two images feature Buddha in a seated position.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Lanka_Thilaka_Image_House\"><\/span>2. Lanka Thilaka Image House<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The magnificent structure of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d3600944-Reviews-Lankathilaka_Image_House-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Lanka Thilaka Image House<\/a><\/strong> presents a majestic sight. Built by King\u00a0Parakramabahu, the site is constructed entirely out of bricks, flanked by\u00a0exterior walls covered with intricate designs and striking carvings. Two gigantic pillars stand at the entrance of the building. It is believed that these pillars would measure twice its current height before the destruction of the site.<\/p>\n<p>It is interesting to note the odd design of the stairways leading to the upper floors within the stupa. The width of each step measures about four inches, making it impossible for the climber to ascend the stairs in the usual manner. Instead, one would have to clamber up with one&#8217;s back against the wall. The unusual design served a purpose; it ensured that the climber would not turn his back to the image of Buddha as he ascended the steps, as this was considered a rude gesture.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MEDIRIGIRIYA-VATADAGE-150x150.jpg\" src-medium=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MEDIRIGIRIYA-VATADAGE-300x169.jpg\" src-large=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MEDIRIGIRIYA-VATADAGE.jpg\" src-full=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MEDIRIGIRIYA-VATADAGE.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/MEDIRIGIRIYA-VATADAGE.jpg\" alt=\"MEDIRIGIRIYA VATADAGE Polonnaruwa\" title=\"\" height=\"253\" width=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1505 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Medirigiriya_Vatagade\"><\/span>3. Medirigiriya Vatagade<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Set atop a small rock, visitors will arrive at\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d7788023-Reviews-Medirigiriya_Vatadage-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Medirigiriya Vatadage<\/a> <\/strong>after\u00a0a short climb.<b>\u00a0<\/b>Tucked away\u00a0in\u00a0an isolated location, the attraction draws few visitors. It is highly likely that you may be traversing the vast compounds of\u00a0the site alone during your visit, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere in the secluded grounds.\u00a0<b><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Vatadages were constructed for the purpose of enveloping and protecting a dagoba.<b>\u00a0<\/b>An intricately-designed stone structure marks the entrance to the site. At every doorway to the vatadage stands four Buddha statues, each facing the four cardinal directions. This is a common element in such types\u00a0of sturcture. Get your cameras ready\u00a0when you\u00a0stand atop the rock to enjoy\u00a0the view of\u00a0Medirigiriya Vatadage; it presents a striking and picture-worthy sight.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Weijantha_Prasada\"><\/span>4. Weijantha Prasada<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Set sight on the ruins of the magnificent palace of King Parakramabahu the Great at\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d3600983-Reviews-Weijantha_Prasada-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Weijantha Prasada<\/a><\/strong>. It is said to contain seven stories, and house a staggering 1,000 chambers. The massive structure comprises of walls towering at a height of 30 feet; step inside the building, and you will see parts of brick walls that were destroyed by fire by the Tamil invaders during the end of the Polonnaruwa era.<\/p>\n<p>Step out to explore the remains of the palace behind the main entrance &#8211; it is a scenic spot for a relaxing stroll. If the sight of the ruins arouses curiosity about how the original structure of the palace was like, check out the exhibits at the Polonnaruwa museum. Among the displays at the museum lies a miniature model of an architect&#8217;s impression of what the palace could have looked like in its heyday.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/NISSANKA-LATHA-MANDAPAYA-Polonnaruwa-150x150.jpg\" src-medium=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/NISSANKA-LATHA-MANDAPAYA-Polonnaruwa-300x163.jpg\" src-large=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/NISSANKA-LATHA-MANDAPAYA-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" src-full=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/NISSANKA-LATHA-MANDAPAYA-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/NISSANKA-LATHA-MANDAPAYA-Polonnaruwa.jpg\" alt=\"NISSANKA LATHA MANDAPAYA Polonnaruwa\" title=\"\" height=\"244\" width=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1506 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Nissanka_Latha_Mandapaya\"><\/span>5. Nissanka Latha Mandapaya<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Built by King\u00a0Nissanka Malla, the\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d3600973-Reviews-Nissanka_Latha_Mandapaya-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Nissanka Latha Mandapaya<\/a><\/strong> stands near the west entrance of the Dalada Maluva. This area houses some of the oldest and most sacred structures in the ancient city. A stone inscription located nearby indicates that the\u00a0Nissanka Latha Mandapaya was built for the purpose of housing King Nissanka Malla while he listened to <em>pirith<\/em>, the chanting of Buddhist scriptures.<\/p>\n<p>Peer closely at the shape and carvings on the stone pillars at the structure. These stone pillars are unique to this attraction &#8211; its carvings are not found in any other site within the country. Carved in the shape of a stork, the pillars do not stand straight, but curve in at three different areas. The top of the pillars are shaped in the form of a lotus flower.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Lotus_Pond\"><\/span>6. Lotus Pond<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Built in the twelfth century, the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d3600932-Reviews-Lotus_Pond-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Lotus Pond<\/a><\/strong> is shaped like an eight-petal lotus, and contains four tiers. It\u00a0is believed to serve as a\u00a0place\u00a0for\u00a0visiting pilgrims to take their ritual baths. The site is rather small in size, but serves as a picturesque spot for photography buffs to capture scenic images.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/POLONNARUWA-VATADAGE-Sri-Lanka-150x150.jpg\" src-medium=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/POLONNARUWA-VATADAGE-Sri-Lanka-300x164.jpg\" src-large=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/POLONNARUWA-VATADAGE-Sri-Lanka.jpg\" src-full=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/POLONNARUWA-VATADAGE-Sri-Lanka.jpg\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-layzr=\"http:\/\/blog.srilanka-villa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/POLONNARUWA-VATADAGE-Sri-Lanka.jpg\" alt=\"POLONNARUWA VATADAGE Sri Lanka\" title=\"\" height=\"246\" width=\"450\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1507 aligncenter\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Polonnaruwa_Vatadage\"><\/span>7. Polonnaruwa Vatadage<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Elaborate and flamboyant, the beautiful structure of <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com.sg\/Attraction_Review-g304140-d7794323-Reviews-Polonnaruwa_Vatadage-Polonnaruwa_North_Central_Province.html\">Polonnaruwa Vatadage<\/a><\/strong> was termed as the &#8216;most ornate building&#8217; in ancient Sri Lanka. A serene Buddha statue sits in the centre of the structure, and the compound contains two intricately-carved stone platforms.<\/p>\n<p>The lower platform can be accessed through a north-facing entrance, while the second platform has entrances leading from four doorways facing the different cardinal points. The stupa, enveloped\u00a0by a sturdy brick wall, sits at an\u00a0upper platform surrounded by four Buddha statues. Pay close attention to the sandakada pahana at the north entrance, as well as the two muragalas at the east entrance &#8211; these are considered to be the best works of similar\u00a0architectural elements during the Polonnaruwa era.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">See our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/\">villas in Sri Lanka<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Keep your eyes wide open, as you take in the wondrous sights of these seven cultural attractions in captivating Polonnaruwa! 1. Gal Viharaya The beautiful &hellip; <\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_excerpt -->","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89],"tags":[128,125,36],"class_list":["post-1396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","tag-arts-and-culture","tag-family-friendly-travel","tag-polonnaruwa","latest_post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1396"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1396\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.srilanka-villa.com\/guide\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}