Sri Lanka Holidays

Lankatilaka Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

A deviation from the traditional Buddhist Architecture
Lankatilaka Vihara is one of the most emblematic structures of the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Two great walls, each with a thickness of 4m & height of 17m form a narrow aisle leading to a very impressive, though now sadly headless Buddha statue still standing, over 14m high. Built by King Parakrabahu the great, the shrine is a definite deviation in terms of Buddhist architecture: instead of the abstract symbolism of the stupa (dagoba) the attention is focused on the giant figure of the Buddha, which fill up the entire space within the shrine.

Excellent murals
While the interior walls are adorned with excellent murals, the outside walls are horizontally divided into five floors & adorned with reliefs of architectural subjects, which give an indication of the type of domed roof it would have had. Lankatilaka was later restored by Vijayabahu the fourth.

Similarities to Vatadages at the entrance
The entrance is guarded by statues similar to those in the vatadage & decorated with still more gurardstones & makara balustrades (dragon arches) adorned with lions & dwarfs.

Adobes of the gods
The intriguing bas reliefs (low reliefs) on the exterior walls are horizontally divided into elaborate five floors most possibly representing the Vimana (adobe) of the gods.