Thivanka Pilimage (Image House)

Unclaimed

One of the best preserved image houses with 12th century old paintings and the Buddha statue. Inside the image house is a set of 3D paintings of the Jathaka stories and the Devaaradhana. Buddha statue is curved at three places giving it the tri-curved-statue - aka Thiwanka. One can see the influence of Hinduism and related architecture here very clearly. Great to witness this masterpiece after close to 800 years.

Absolutely amazing location. The whole site is worth a visit. Do walk it, hire a bike, a tuktuk or a guide. The walk can be done (we did), but you'll feel more comfortable & relaxed if you use some sort of transport. Google maps seemed to struggle with locations. We had actually walked past the turn off, google didn't seem to keep up. If you're in the area, visit, you won't be disappointed. Shoes & hats off, no photos inside. There is a guide inside who will explain the paintings to you.

King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) constructed Thivanka Pilimage as part of the Jethavanarama Complex. This has been provided the name “Thivanka,” which literally implies three curves, since the big picture of Buddha was curved in 3 locations. This is too constructed with bricks including the statue, like most other constructions of this age. Thivanka Pilimage or Image House is located in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka and is a part of the country’s rich heritage. The Buddha statue at the Thivanka Pilimage is about 8 meters high, but today it has demolished the portion of the statue above the head. The statue is 6.6 meters tall today. The building is 67.6 “wide and 133 feet long. The walls are 7-12 feet thick, which makes the building’s inner size much smaller. The buildings ‘ inside walls were decorated with frescoes showing the Jataka Stories (prior births of Buddha before enlightenment) although most of the masonry was destroyed, the colorful drawings can still be seen in the areas where the masonry is intact. There are two guard stones and two “Korawak Gala” entrances to the building. The house of the image is built with bricks. It has Gedige’s architecture, just like the other two main image houses found in Polonnaruwa, Lankathilaka and Thuparama. The entire structure can be seen in the picture house of Thuparama. The walls are dense from 7-12 feet. The picture house’s exterior wall is adorned with sculptures of Vamana (dwarf), heaven-like Vimana. Paintings of the Polonnaruwa Era are found in this Image House. Many of the paintings are well preserved even today, thanks to the efforts of the authorities. The external restoration of this image house took place very slowly for the last 15 years and was covered by shuttering during this era.

Thiwanka Image Gallery, also known as Thiwanka Pilima Geya, in Polonnaruwa is a fascinating site. The ancient murals and sculptures inside the gallery offer a glimpse into the artistic brilliance of Sri Lanka’s past. The vivid colors and intricate details on the walls tell stories that have been preserved for centuries. While photography is not allowed inside to preserve the artwork, the peaceful setting adds to the experience, making it a perfect place to immerse yourself in history and culture. If you're exploring Polonnaruwa, this gallery is definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in Sri Lanka’s rich heritage.

A well preserved image house, well worth a visit. There's a small shop for refreshments / snacks nearby. It's a bit out of the way from the rest of the ruins but was quieter.