Lankatilaka Vihara Polonnaruwa

Lankatilaka is a 12th-century image house (gedige) built by King Parakramabahu I, and its brick walls rise to 17 metres, making it the tallest surviving structure in the Polonnaruwa archaeological park. The building once enclosed a colossal standing stucco Buddha figure, of which only the lower legs, torso, and ornate pedestal remain, the head and upper body having collapsed centuries ago. The doorway arch and flanking pilasters carry finely detailed decorative brickwork, and a series of blind window niches line the outer walls in a style influenced by South Indian temple architecture. The sheer scale of the ruin, with jungle pushing against its outer walls, makes it one of the most atmospheric sites in Polonnaruwa. It sits 2 kilometres north of the Royal Palace, making a bicycle the practical choice to connect the two.