ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF ANURADHAPURA, POLONNARUWA & KANDY

Having never learned Architecture as a profession our ancestors has created marvels in architecture just
by their intuitions. As Sri Lankans we can be really proud of their contribution towards building a unique
Sri Lankan architectural style that evolved throughout the historical timeline. And its our duty to
contribute towards shaping that uniqueness for the future as well. A careful analysis would show how
this process of evolution happened and that it did not happen in just a brief period of time.

Even though we had a civilizations in Sri Lanka even before Vijaya arrived here the literal history starts
from the day that Vijaya arrived to Thambapanni. Beginning from that time Anuradhapura which was
centered on the Malwathu Oya became the administrative capital of Sri Lanka for more than thousand
years. With the arrival of Mahinda thero Buddhism and Different arts and crafts were introduced to us
from India. But it is us who adapted that Indian arts and crafts to a Sri Lankan style.

In Anuradhapura the architectural monuments are mainly

focused on Buddhism. Most of the architectural remaining
show a relation to Buddhism one way or the other. Viharas and
chethiyas are the most common type of architectural
monuments seen in the Anuradhapura period. The arriangment
of these viharas around the central administration core of the
city was critically planned from the initial town planning. 5 main
viharas are seen in Anuradhapura namely Mahawiharaya,
Abayagiriya, Mirisawatiya, Jethawanaya and Dakkina Vihara.

The other smaller monasteries were in the outer circle and

every institution had connections to Irrigational arrangements
in the city. And the forest monasteries were on the outermost
areas where monks did meditation without outside
interferences. Forest monasteries like Ritigala, Arankale were
just a few examples. Even Seegiriya has been a forest
monastery before its inception and it is said that king Kashyapa
moved those monks to Pidurangala.

These monasteries were equipped with refectories, hospitals,

kutis, bathing ponds, toilets. One of the most important
architectural features of Anuradhapura era is the extensive use
of stone as a building material. Even the decorations have been
done with stones. The Ath pokuna and twin ponds
are good example for this type of intricate
workmanship.

Twin Ponds

Urinals at Western Monasteries

 Seegiriya and Murals

Other than the monasteric architecture Seegiriya has been a different citadel. A wonder of landscape
architecture and a intricate workmanship the seefiriya murals are an identity to Sri Lankan Art which are
preserved even upto the present.

The art of stupa building was also a

significant character in the
Anuradhapura period which came to
its culmination in the Anuradhapura
period. The Abhayagiriya,
Jethawanaya and Ruwanweliseya are
still one of the most extradorinary
masonary creations built entirely out
of bricks.

Abhayagiriya after Renovation

After so many years the Anuradhapura Kingdom collapsed with the continuous invations from South
Indian kingdoms and the ruling weakness of later kings of Anuradhapura. With the shifting of capitals
from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa the arts and crafts of the era had a different quality than
Anuradhapura. Where as in Anuradhapura most of the Architecture was buddhism related the influence
of Tamil invaders resulted in diverse architectural posibiliteis.
Polonnaruwa Architecture had 4 main architectural highlights ; Buddhist monasteries, Hindu shrines,
Royal Palaces, Council chambers. Vijayabahu I, Parakramabahu I and Nishshankamalla were the kings
who contrinuted most for this architectural revival after invations. And the

Mahayana influence was greater in the

Polonnaruwa period in the buddhist monateries
than that of the Anuradhapura period. This is
emphasize in the increase in the number of image
houses in this era. Anuradhapura the vihara and
the Chethiya were the main priority but that
shifted in to the Image house tradition. The main
feature of Polonnaruwa architecture was the
extensive brick constructtions where as the
Anuradhapura the stones were the main material.
The brick walls were very thing and high creating
huge volumes inside image hosues. Some
examples are the Thivanka Image House and
Lankathilakaya.

Lankathilaka Image House

Thiwanka Image house plan form

Even the walls have intricate carvings which are

Mahayana influences.

Invaders built Hindu Shrines in Polonnaruwa dedicated

to gods and thus the god worshipping became more
popular as well. These Dravidian architecture was not
like the South Indian version, but had a Sri Lankan
hybrid architecture. Shiva devala number one and two
are good examples for this kind. Domical roofs were
one of the main features of these devalas which was
new to Sri Lankan context.

Shiva Devala no.2

Royal architecture takes a prominent place in Polonnaruwa. Its where we can see royal palace remnants
for the first time. Palace of Parakramabahu, his summer palace and the palace of Nishshankamalla span
a large scale.

Parakramabahu Palace

Hatadagaya, watadagaya were also among the main architectural features of this period because they
were the tooth relic temples at that time.
 Gal Viharaya

This has one of the most intricate stone

workmanship in the Polonnaruwa period. 3
Buddha Statues with separate image houses
at the time of construction.

Council Chamber of Parakramabahu

Council chambers had a very organized

architecture. Even the stone columns were
detailed according to the rankings in the
Nishshankamallas council chamber.

With the march of time more and more invasions came and the kingdoms started shifting from one
place to another within a very short period of time. This made a decline in the original architectural
characteristics of the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. The kingdoms shifted from the Dry zone to the
Central Hill country. So the climate change did a drastic change to the architecture of this period. But a
revival in architecture again happened in the Gampola period under the Alagakkonara and
Wickramabahu clans who were educated scholars. Lankathilakaya and Gadaladeniya are important
architectural monuments done by them. But they had more Indian influence and Mahayana influence
compared to Dry zone architecture.
 Lankathilakaya

By the time the Kandyan kingdom was well established it had developed its uniqueness to architecture.
And kandyan architecture has more diversity than the previous eras. There are Buddhist monasteries,
Hindu Buddhist shrines, Dwelling Units, Palaces, Audience halls and way side resting places.

Buddhist monasteries had a number of unique features developed. The double pitched Kandyan roof is
one of the most unique ideas in the Kandyan architecture. It emphasizes the space that it encloses as
the main space. And it gives a good identity to Kandyan architecture. Another important Buddhist
architectural feature is the tampita image houses. These were mainly done to avoid the wetness in
these areas seeping into the interiors. The structure is built on stone boulders. The tampita image
houses and devalas are very popular in this era.

Kongahagedara tampita image house

And other than these the monk residences had special

arrangements like open courtyard layout like in the
Lankathilaka monk residence where there is an atuwa as
well. The kandyan domestic architecture is a main
vernacular architecture style that adopted to the
particular climate. They have reduces the outside inside
connection by reducing the number of openings but have introduced the concept of open to the sky
courtyards to get the necessary sunlight and ventilation in to the building. This regulates the internal
temperature as well as creates an ecofriendly internal environment.

The little tradition style culminated in creating the way side resting places named ambalamas along the
routs this is a major architectural feature unique to this period. A good example is the Karagahagedara
ambalama.

Other than these the use of laksha and

different colorful renderings to the carving
details were prominent features. Especially
intricate wood carving like the ambekke were
done during this time period. Most of the
handrails in buildings were colored using this
laksha system and they had unique colors.

Artists rendered the inside of image houses

as well with jathaka stories and those artistic
styles were unique from Anuradhapura and
Polonnaruwas mural styles.

When considering about the Grand tradition architecture in the Kandyan kingdom the Palaces and the
audience halls are prominent. The dalada maligawa in the heart of the Kandy is the best example of the
culmination of kandyan tradition where open courtyards, colorful renderings, kandyan roof, art work
gives a unique emphasize to the special character of the space.

Temple of Tooth Kandy

And the audience hall the magul maduwa situated inside the Temple of tooth is an intricate piece of
workmanship with wood column carvings. Even the modern independence square building is an
adaptation of this.

So the clear difference between the architectural features and adaptations of Anuradhapura to Kandy
can be clearly seen. And this shows that architecture is not stagnated but an evolving art.

The story of evolution of architecture is not yet over. Great architects like Geoffrey Bwa reinterpreted
our lost glory in the modern fabric.