Thivanka Image House
Thivanka Image House is the ideal place to explore the ancient art of the 12th century A.C belonging to Polonnaruwa Kingdom. This is an ancient building consisting of remarkable paintings, convoluted carvings, murals and the distinctive statue of Lord Buddha.
King Parakramabahu the Great is the key person behind the construction of this architectural treasure which belongs to Jetavanarama monastery. The image house has undergone vulnerable time due to invaders of South India and been deliberately destroyed. This monument survived under the jungle for about five centuries and was rediscovered in the late 1800s.
The original Buddha statue at the Thivanka Pilgrimage was about 8 meters in height but since due several conditions, the statue is now at 6.6 meters in height. The internal structure is 133 feet high and 68 feet wide while the walls are 7 to 12 feet thick making the internal size of the building cramped. The main east facing entrance of this shrine consists of guard stones and balustrades.
Interior walls of the Thivanka Image house which have been decorated with mural paintings showcasing the Jataka stories which prior to the birth of Buddha before enlightenment and Buddha sitting on a boat with other humans can be found here. The exterior walls have been adorned with decorative sculptures depicting miniature edifices together with Bodhisattvas, deities, lions, swans and the dwarf figures in various postures.
Surviving through the rigours of time, the image house still proves to be one of the most important archaeological monuments in the country, as the murals and sculptures here are believed to be the only existing ones from the Polonnaruwa period. This unique attraction in Polonnaruwa is located in a calmful atmosphere and can be easily explored.
