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Polonnaruwa Heritage site

The eastern corner of the Cultural Triangle was the Silver Capital Polonnaruwathat followed Anuradhapura . Though lasted only a few decades over two centuries,the colossal works of art and architecture, both Buddhist and Hindu, including stupendous image shrines like Lankatilaka, Tivanka Patimaghara and Parakrama samudra ( Sea of Parakrama ), still breath the classical warmth of the preceding era. The stone carved Buddha icons of the Galvihara attract thousands of connoisseurs all year around.

The Chola monuments and the vast collections of Hindu bronzes vie with or surpass their counterparts of South Indian products in excellence.

The archaeological remains at Polonnaruva best exhibit the royal architectural achievements. Visitors to Polonnaruva would no doubt enjoy the Museum and Visitor Center , which has gained great international repute.

The Royal palace of King Parakumbahu (12 th century) known as VIJAYOTPAYA, after the heavenly palace of god Sakra, is the only edifice that remains with walls to some extent. It consisted of five storeys and a large number of cells, separate dinning-cum-kitchen, etc. The complex consisted of separate queen chambers, official quarters, parks and baths. The palace complex was entirely surrounded by a wide rampart provided with watch-towers, turrets, walks etc.

The council Chamber of Nissankamalla is a distinctive monument in that the respective seats of the council officers are inscribed on the pillars on either side. The massive lion figure at the end was throne of the King as shown by the inscription under its belly.

 

The large figure carved on a boulder at the Potgul Vihara (Library shrine) in the extreme south of the ancient city is considered to be a king. possibly Parakramabahu or a Sage. possibly Pulasti after whom the ancient city was named. He appears to hold an object like a palm-leaf manuscript.If the figure is identical whith a king, this object represents the yoke of kingship

 

The Great reservoir Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama) was constructed by joining three existing tanks by Parakramabahu during whose reign (1153-86) Sri Lanka was known as the "The granery of the East " A grand view of the reservoir is enjoyed by tourists who resort themselves at the Rest house located at the tank bund.

 

The Sacred Quadrangle located to the north of the Parakramabahu Palace Complex, consists of some of the most significant sacred monuments which display the grandeur of the architecture of the Polonnaruwa period, namely, Thuparama image house, Vatadage Stupa shrine, Atadage and Hetadage (shrines of the Tooth & Bowl Relics), Nissanka Lata Mandapa, Galpota (Stone Book) and Satmahal Prasada Stupa.

 

This pyramid shaped, seven storied building is thought to be an unusually shaped stupa. It is said that similar stupa’s can be seen in Cambodia and in Siam. It is thought this has been built for the Cambodian soldiers who were working under the king as place of worship. The building has four entrances from four sides. Also there is stair case to reach the upper levels.
The person who built it, the original name of it or the purpose is still a mystery. This is made out of brick and is over 30 feet (9 metres) in height.

The Lata Mandapa represents a particularly flamboyant design in ancient Lankan architecture. Unlike the straight pillars characteristic of other structures in Polonnaruwa and elsewhere, at the Lata Mandapa we find the extraordinary wobbling columns. Lata Mandapa, which means "Flower Scroll Hall" was built by King Nissanka Malla in the 12th century.
The swaying columns, which supported a timber roof to house a small stupa, are stylized representations of the lotus stems with the flower at the capital. Lata Mandapa represents a "baroque" or "rococo" period in Sinhalese art in which the austere style yields to heavy ornamentation.

 

The Atadage is the first Tooth Relic Temple of Polonnaruwa. It was built by Vijayabahu in the 11th century. The name Atadage means "House of Eight Relics". What remains of Atadage today are 54 stone pillars which once supported a timber upper floor where the relic was kept.
Many of the pillars bear inscriptions. There were also inscriptions in Tamil, meant for the Tamil guardians who came from South India to protect the sacred relics - the Tamil guards act just like the Swiss guards who protect the Pope. A big Buddha image, almost 3 m high, stands near the end of the temple.

 

Rankoth Vehera (Svarnamali Cetiya) was the work of king Nissankamalla of Polonnaruva,and provides a grandeur look very much like the Ruwanvelisaya of Anuradhapura. The Stupa compound is provided with a stone paving and gateways opening at the cardinal points and four directional approach paths. The dome was constructed with a centrel cube which supported the superstructure, quite a distinctive method of Stupa construction

 

The great educational monastic complex Alahana Parivena was founded by king Parakramabahu. The Central terrace contains the great Baddhasimaprada Chapter house, Lankatilaka image house and Kiri Vehera Stupa. Excavations conducted by the Cultural triangle have revealed many other monuments including a monks' hospital of the 12th century, together with medical and surgical instruments.

 

Lankatilaka, the image house of the Alahana Parivena, established by king Parakramabahu, is the largest shrine at Polonnaruva. It belongs to the gedige shrine type and was originally five-storied. The tall pylons of the entrance doorway still display the grandeur of the monument that vie with some of the monuments of ancient Greece .

 

The Stupa of the Alahana Parivena remains the only monument that displays the different features of a stupa-the triple berm, dome, square tee, deities enclosure and the umbrella cone ( Kotkaralla i).

 

The chapter house of the Buddhist monks Baddhasima-pasada was built twelve storey's high by king Parakramabahu. This grand monument was solely meant for the use of the monks for ecclesiastical activities. The monks who congregated for rehearsing the code of discipline were provided with all requirements of accommodation within the premises.

 

12th Century monk's hospital discovered during the excavations of the Cultural Triangle Project. It reveals many aspects of the ancient method is of treating patients. Several medical and surgical instruments were discovered from the site and are now displayed at the Polonnaruva Museum.

 

The ancient Uttararama, popularly known as Gal-Vihara, represents the most admired and venerated monument at Polonnaruva. The amazing relief sculptures of the Buddha in all three postures, seated, standing and recumbent, are of unparalleled excellence.

 

Thivanka Pilimage constitutes the Gedige image shrine most exuberently decorated with sculpturs and paintings. The murals of the Tivanka Pilimage represents the best artistic expressions of the early medival times.The painting depicts a gathering of gods at the Tusita heaven, where the Buddha in his final birth as a Bodhisattva was born.

 

The Lotus Pond of the Jetavanarama established by King Parakramabahu remains one of the most magnificent monuments meant to be used as a bath for the monks with provision for filling and emptying the pond through underground clay pipe lines.

 

Polonnaruva represents the ancient capital that witnessed the influence of the Hindus due to Chola intervention. At least fourteen Hindu shrines have been found in the ancient city. The Hindu bronzes discovered from Polonnaaruva are among the best Hindu sculptures.

 

This shrine, which is well preserved is built in the name of the queen of the Chola King Rajaraja I. The shrine is still being worshipped by the Hindus.

 

Shiva Bhakta - Karreikkal Ammeiyar	Tandava Dance of Shiva

 

The sculpture shows god Siva and Parvati standing together in a graceful manner bestowing benevolence on mankind.

 

"Polonnaruwa The Medieval capital of Sri Lanka" The history of early Sri Lanka was very carefully recorded and written down by monks. The Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle) records the earlier period of the Sri Lankan, and Chulavamsa (lesser Chronicle), gives an accurate picture of the 'Polonnaruwa' period. King Aggabodhi IV PolonnaruwaFrom this chronicle we learn that Aggabodhi IV (667 - 685) AD was the first Sri Lankan King who lived in Polonnaruwa, and the town came gradually to become the 'Country Residence' of royalty. Anuradhapura, the formal and administrative capital, was already a thousand years old, and kings increasingly favoured the new city of Polonnaruwa, and developed it. However it was the Cholas of South India who made Polonnaruwa the capital after looting and burning Anuradhapura in 993 AD. TOP King Vijayabahu I In 1070 AD the Sinhala King Vijayabahu I liberated the country by defeating the Cholas, and kept Polonnaruwa as his capital. Vijayabahu succeeded in repairing much of the irrigation system in the island, encouraged trade and brought some prosperity back to the country. TOP King Parakramabahu I PolonnaruwaKing Parakramabahu I (1153-86) raised Polonnaruwa to its heights. He erected huge buildings, drained swamps and planted vast areas with crops, planned beautiful parks, created wildlife sanctuaries, restored earlier monuments & even undertook military expeditions against Burma and India. However his crowning achievements were the creation of the 2400 hectare tank (about 15 Km2), so large it was named the Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama); and the unification of the three orders of monks, the Maha vihara, Jetavana and Abhayagiri into one Sangha or 'Supreme Order of Monks'. The greatness of his achievement was to ensure the survival of Buddhism in the dark centuries ahead. Parakramabahu was the last great king of Sri Lanka. TOP King Nissankamalla PolonnaruwaKing Nissankamalla (1187 - 96), although claimed himself to be a great builder, was not. And squandered most of the country's wealth trying to match his predecessor's deeds. The decline of Polonnaruwa After Nissankamalla's death, Polonnaruwa went to decline, civil war, lawlessness and constant invasions from the South Indian Chola Empire, and Malay barbarians who sacked the city several times, virtually destroyed the social structure and religious order of the country. A whole century after this were the 'Dark Ages' of Sri Lanka, a century from which few historical records survive. The capital was shifted to Kurunegala, and Polonnaruwa returned to the jungle; it's great reservoirs survived as a series of swampy lakes, and its large brick buildings became lost under thick tropical forest. The Portuguese are said to have raided and looted Polonnaruwa, but by the early nineteenth century the site was completely lost. In the early years of this century the main monuments of the ancient city were uncovered. Today, conservatioPolonnaruwa,sri lanka,The Medieval capital of Sri Lanka,The history,Sri Lanka,monks,Mahavamsa,Great Chronicle,Chulavamsa,lesser Chronicle,Polonnaruwa period,King Aggabodhi IV,first Sri Lankan King who lived in Polonnaruwa,Country Residence,Anuradhapura,administrative capital,thousand years old,kings,new city,Cholas of South India,looting and burning Anuradhapura,King Vijayabahu I,1070 AD,Sinhala King,irrigation system,island,trade,King Parakramabahu I,military expeditions,Burma,India,Parakrama Samudra,Sea of Parakrama,unification,three orders of monks,Maha vihara,Jetavana,Abhayagiri,Sangha,Supreme Order of Monks,survival of Buddhism,Parakramabahu was the,last great king of Sri Lanka,King Nissankamalla,1187 - 96,great builder,country's wealth,The decline of Polonnaruwa,South Indian,Chola Empire, Malay barbarians,Dark Ages,Kurunegala,Portuguese,lost,Cultural Trianglen and excavations continue, as part of the work of the Cultural Triangle.