Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
reclining image is next to it. The fact that it had its own separate enclosure, along with the
discovery of other images with the same arm position, has discredited this theory and it is
now accepted that all the images are of the Buddha.
The
reclining Buddha
depicted entering parinirvana (nirvana-after-death) is 14m long.
Notice the subtle depression in the pillow under the head and the wheel symbol on the pil-
low end. The other two images are both of the seated Buddha. The one in the small rock
cavity is smaller and of inferior quality.
Nelum Pokuna
POND
A track to the left from the northern stretch of road leads to unusual Nelum Pokuna (Lotus
Pond), nearly 8m in diameter, which has five concentric, descending rings of eight petals
each. The pool was probably used by monks.
Tivanka Image House
MONUMENT
The northern road ends at Tivanka Image House. Tivanka means 'thrice bent', and refers
to the fact that the Buddha image within is in a three-curve position normally reserved for
female statues. The building is notable for the carvings of energetic dwarfs cavorting
around the outside, and for the fine frescoes within - the only Polonnaruwa murals to have
survived. Some of these date from a later attempt by Parakramabahu III to restore Polon-
naruwa, but others are much older.
Southern Group
The small southern group is close to the compound of top-end hotels. By bicycle it's a
pleasant ride along the bund of the Topa Wewa. You'll likely find more cows (and their
friends, the cattle egret) than you will people here.
Potgul Vihara
MONUMENT
Also known as the library dagoba, the Potgul Vihara is an unusual structure. A thick-
walled, hollow, dagoba-like building, it is thought to have been used to store sacred books.
It's effectively a circular
gedige
, and four smaller solid dagobas arranged around this cent-
