Atadage
The oldest building in the Quadrangle, a Tooth Relic shrine from the reign of Vijayabahu I, its slender stone pillars still standing amid the ruins.
The oldest surviving structure within Polonnaruwa's Sacred Quadrangle, Atadage was built by King Vijayabahu I during his reign between 1055 and 1110, the very king who successfully expelled the Chola invaders and restored Sinhalese rule to the island after decades of foreign occupation. Constructed specifically to house the Buddha's tooth relic, the shrine's name translates roughly to house of eight relics, or alternatively house of the eight, a reference whose precise meaning has been debated by historians for generations.
What survives today is largely a skeleton of the original structure, the foundation and 54 stone pillars that once supported an upper wooden floor, on which the tooth relic itself would have been kept, elevated above the ground level chamber below. A stone inscription found near the site records that the temple's security was entrusted specifically to Velaikkara soldiers, a South Indian mercenary force employed within the kingdom, a detail that offers a small but genuine glimpse into the practical, often multicultural military arrangements underpinning Polonnaruwa's royal and religious institutions even during a period of restored Sinhalese sovereignty.
As the only structure within the entire Sacred Quadrangle surviving from Vijayabahu I's reign, Atadage holds a particular historical weight beyond its architectural remains, it represents the literal foundation stone of Polonnaruwa's status as custodian of Sri Lanka's most sacred relic, a role the tooth relic held here before later, grander shrines like the Vatadage and Hatadage were built by his successors to house it in ever more elaborate settings.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Covered by the Polonnaruwa ancient city ticket, around USD 25
- Opening hours: 7:00am to 6:00pm
- Time needed: 15 minutes
- Best time: Daytime
Getting there
In the Quadrangle in the central group of the ancient city.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Atadage?
- Covered by the Polonnaruwa ancient city ticket, around USD 25.
- What are the opening hours at Atadage?
- 7:00am to 6:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Atadage?
- Plan for 15 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Atadage?
- Daytime.
- How do I get to Atadage?
- In the Quadrangle in the central group of the ancient city.