Lankatilaka Image House

SRI LANKA, North Central Province, Polonnaruwa

Lankatilaka means Ornament of Lanka. It is located in the heart of Alahana Pirivera Buddhist University at Polonnaruwa and is considered to be the most imposing structure in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The Image House was built by King Parakramabahu I (reigned 1153–1186) on the site of an earlier temple, and it was reconstructed between 1270 and 1272 by King Vijayabahu IV (reigned 1267–1270). As part of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The Lankatilaka is laid out in a U-shape. This enormous brick structure is 17 m high, 18 m wide, and approximately 12 m deep. On either side of the entrance the existing brick pillars are divided into three sections. The vaulted roof has collapsed. The external walls are divided into panels by molded cornices in which four scenes are depicted. There are bas-reliefs of buildings, pavilions and towers on the surface of the walls finished in stucco. There is a huge Buddha statue made of bricks and covered with stucco inside the Image House. The statue is approximately 12.5 m high.
The stucco reliefs of Lankatilaka not only illustrate the prosperity of the city in the 12th century, but also serve as an important historical source for the study of the architecture of that time.