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If you have been to Polonnaruwa, you would know what a rush it is. So many ruins cramped together. When you purchase the entrance ticket to see the ruins, typically the temptation is to see all that is to be seen and this in fact is the folly of it all. On many of our previous visits, we were guilty of the same crime – for it is indeed a crime not to see, visualize, and drink deeply of the splendor of our ancients. In the hot sun, we would pant from one ruined building to another only taking time to quench our thirst, and at the end of the day tramp back to our hotel to relax.
However, changing our modus operandi this time when we visited Polonnaruwa we were determined to visit, study, and relax over just one of the many groups of ruins. So after a holiday lunch (which means you have a license to overeat), an afternoon siesta (luxury), and a fine cup of tea (wake-up call), we made our way to the Alahana Pirivena Monastery site around 5.00 pm.
Alahana Pirivena is the great monastic complex founded by Parakramabahu 1 (1153-1186), said to be built on a cremation ground, hence the name Alahana Pirivena.
This is part of Alahana Privena. According to the chronicle “Chulawansa”, this has been a 12 storied building. This is 106×113 feet in size and originally had 108 stone pillars. Red color paintings can be still seen on some of the walls of this building.
The Badda Sema Malakaya, also known as the Buddha Seema Pasada, was built on the highest platform at the Alahena Pirivena. The chapter house was the building from which the rules of the Sangha or the Order of the Buddhist monks were enforced. After King Parakramabahu united all Buddhist monks under one sect, the Baddhasima Pasada was built to ensure that these regulations were maintained.
The monks met once a fortnight, on the full moon and new moon days, at the chapter house. They all sat together on the ground with the chief monk seated on a raised platform or mandapaya and recited the rules of the Order.
On the top of the terrace, pillars are set around the building. They served the purpose of ‘sima’ or boundary stones which indicated the limits of the sacred area; their exact positions have been noted down in the Chronicles.
The building has vaulted, triangular windows, typical of the architecture of the Polonnaruwa era. The painted plaster could still be seen on some inside walls.
According to the Chronicles, the building was originally 12 stories high, and the top floors were used by monks as living quarters. A cave on the eastern side of the chapter house contains small seated Buddha images carved from solid rock.
Also See
Map of Badda Sema Malakaya at Ancient Capital of Polonnaruwa
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Driving Directions to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
| Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred City | Route from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City |
| Through : Central Highway – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo :230 km Travel Time : 4.45 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Through : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana Distance : 140 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps |
| Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City | Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City |
| Though : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance : 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Though : Chenkaladi – Valachchena Distance : 97 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map |
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