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The Thuparama Image House at the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa is one of the few buildings where you can see a roof completely made out of bricks. Almost the whole building has survived over 900 years miraculously.
This statue lies in the center of the Dalada Maluwa at a slightly elevated ground. The arms of the statue are missing. It is unclear whether this is a statue of King Nissanga Malla (1187-1196) or a Statue of bodhisattva
This beautiful Vatadage or Stupa House has been built before the time of Nissanga Malla (1187-1196) but he has carried out major renovations on this building. So what you see today is probably his work.
Dalada Maluwa is an elevated area in the Polonnaruwa Sacred City which many Buddhist buildings are situated. The Entrance to the Dalada Maluwa is through stone steps. Left to these steps is a stone slab with 3 carved figures, A man pointing towards the Dalada Maluwa, a crow and a dog.
Siva Kovil (no. 1) is the first kovil you will come across after entering the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The walls of this kovil are made out of a closely fitted stone blocks of a type which is not found anywhere near Polonnaruwa.
Lying inside the inner city with the Palace Complex, passing the Royal Court of King Parakramabahu you can reach this Kumara Pokuna pond made out of stone slabs. This tank has been used during the period of King Parakramabahu ( 1153-1186).
Built by king Parakramabahu this Royal Court is situated in front of the palace. Built on 3 layers of solid rock, the border of the first layer is decorated with carved elephants each in a different posture. Second layer border is carved with figures of lions and the last layer with images of “Wamana”.
This is a majestic palace of Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) with seven stories and said to have 1000 chambers. Although the main building possibly couldn’t hold such a number of chambers, when you consider the whole palace complex it is thought that this number is a possibility.
Remains of palace of Nissanka Malla lies behind the current Polonnaruwa Rest House along with the Audience Hall of of King Nissanka Malla. This place has been probably built mainly with bricks during the reign of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) thus there is only very little of this palace complex remains.
Nissanga Malla Audience Hall is made of solid rock and probably held a wooden roof. The building has been held by 48 stone pillars laid in 4 rows. The throne is a massive lion carved in stone. “Throne of the King” is carved at the bottom of the lion figure.
This is a lonely multi storied building made out of bricks. The staircase is still intact. An important feature of this building is that it has no windows. Due to this feature it is also thought to be a tomb of King Nissanka Malla. The original plaster is still intact giving a glimpse of what the plastering of buildings looked like over 800 years ago.
According to the accounts in the ancient texts, Deepa Uyana or the Island Garden would have been like no other. A grand garden complex – maybe even grander that the Great Parakramabahu’s palace complex.
This beautifully carved statue stands 11½ feet (3.5 meters) in height and carved in to a semi-circular rock. Popular belief is that this is the statue of king Parakramabahu (1153-1186) thus generally known as the Parakramabahu Statue. Another belief is that this is a statue of an Indian high priest (probably “Kapila” of “Pulasthi”). The long beard and the mustache, the hair, the clothing, and the body with a slightly large stomach are not what you would expect from a statue of a great king.