This destination is recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. Click to view list of World Heritage Sites documented by AsiaExplorers.
Vatadage
Polonnaruwa Heritage Site

   


Your base for exploring this tourist attraction is the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. For tourist information about Polonnaruwa, go to Polonnaruwa Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Sri Lanka, read also the Sri Lanka Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.


The name Vatadage is a structure unique to Sri Lanka. It simply means a circular religious building, some housing a stupa within it. There are numerous vatadage across Sri Lanka, but the Vatadage at Polonnaruwa is probably the most renowned. It dates from the 7th century, and was part of a monastery which flourished in Polonnaruwa when the capital was still at Anuradhapura. As with many other vatadage, it had a stupad in the centre with four Buddha images facing the cardinal directions.

Reflecting the tradition of the time, the Vatadage entrances are embellished with moonstones to welcome, and guardstones to ward off evil. It probably had a wooden roof which is now long gone, although the bricks and stone columns are still standing. Subsequent kings made additions to the temple. King Nissanka Malla added a very elaborate makara balustrade.



Ruins of the Vatadage Circular Relic House, Polonnaruwa.



[note: it is forbidden to take photograph of persons with their back towards a Buddha statue in many places in Sri Lanka, including at Polonnaruwa, as a sign of respect for the Buddha.]

Vatadage Photo Gallery

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Places of interest in Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa Travel Guide

Explore the places of interest in Polonnaruwa. Click to view list.

Polonnaruwa Travel Guide

























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How much have you explored Sri Lanka? Through AsiaExplorers, you can now explore these places in Sri Lanka from the comfort of your desk: Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura (Abhayagiri Giant Pond, Abhayagiri Monastery, Dakkhina Stupa, Jetavana Dagoba, Kuttam Pokuna Twin Ponds, Lankarama Dagoba, Ruwanweliseya Dagoba, Sri Maha Bodhi Tree, Thuparama Dagoba, Aukana Buddha), Colombo, (Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple, Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Dutch Period Museum, Fort District, Fort Railway Station, Galle Face Hotel, Independence Memorial Hall, Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque, National Museum, Old Town Hall, Pettah District, Seema Malakaya Meditation Centre, Sri Kailawasanathar Swami Devasthanam Temple, Town Hall, Viharamahadevi Park), Dambulla Cave Temple, Galle Fort, Kandy (Sri Dalada Maligawa, Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy Lake, Kohomba Kankariya Folk Dance, Queens Hotel), Mihintale, Negombo, Nuwara Eliya (Tea Factory Hotel, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage, Polonnaruwa (Atadage, Gal Pota, Gal Vihara, Hatadage, Lata Mandapa, Parakrama Samudra, Parakramabahu's Council Chamber, Rankot Vihara, Satmahal Prasada, Shiva Devale, Thuparama Image House, Vatadage, Vijayanta Pasada), Ramboda Falls, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Durians

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