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
Click enter to view more photos of the Vatadage.
Polonnaruwa Travel Guide
Explore the places of interest in Polonnaruwa. Click to view list.
