Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House
A soaring brick image house with walls 17 metres high framing a huge, now headless standing Buddha, its towering roofless nave one of the most atmospheric ruins in the city.
South of the gleaming white Kiri Vehera stupa, within the sprawling Alahana Pirivena monastic complex, the Lankatilaka Image House rises as one of the largest and most visually striking structures anywhere in ancient Polonnaruwa, its name meaning Beauty of Sri Lanka, a fitting title for what functioned as something close to a monumental art gallery. Constructed entirely of brick under King Parakramabahu I in the late 12th century, the building belongs to a specific architectural category known as gedige, a vaulted roof design built completely from brick, roof included, a construction technique shared by only two other structures in Polonnaruwa, the Thuparama and Thivanka image houses.
Inside stands a massive standing Buddha statue, also fashioned from specially manufactured clay bricks, originally reaching an estimated height of 12.5 meters, though the upper portion above the shoulders has since been lost to time, along with both hands, which have separated from the figure entirely. At the entrance, two enormous brick pillars still dominate the facade, the taller surviving tower reaching roughly 17.7 meters, with archaeological evidence suggesting the original structure may have stood twice that height before centuries of decay took their toll. Elaborately carved exterior walls display intricate ornamental detail blending Polonnaruwa's own architectural style with clear South Indian influences, and the building's ground plan divides cleanly into three sections, sanctum, vestibule and an east facing entrance porch flanked by carved wingstones and guardstones.
References to Lankatilaka appear repeatedly throughout the ancient Culavamsa and Mahavamsa chronicles, evidence that successive kings valued and maintained the structure across generations, King Vijayabahu IV specifically undertaking renovations during the Dambadeniya period in the 1270s. Decorative stucco head fragments recovered from the site, humorous, dwarfish faces with broad lips and wide eyes, now preserved at the National Museum in Colombo, offer a rare glimpse of the playful folk art tradition that once decorated this otherwise solemn monastic masterpiece.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Covered by the Polonnaruwa ancient city ticket, around USD 25
- Opening hours: 7:00am to 6:00pm
- Time needed: 30 minutes
- Best time: Late afternoon
Getting there
In the northern group of the ancient city, near Kiri Vehera.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House?
- Covered by the Polonnaruwa ancient city ticket, around USD 25.
- What are the opening hours at Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House?
- 7:00am to 6:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House?
- Plan for 30 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House?
- Late afternoon.
- How do I get to Lankathilaka Viharaya | Lankathilaka Image House?
- In the northern group of the ancient city, near Kiri Vehera.