Tivanka Image House
Verification: in review · Coordinates: unverified
What is this site?
Massive brick-vaulted Gedige sheltering a Buddha statue sculpted in the thrice-bent (Tivanka) posture, covered in 12th-century narrative murals.
Why it matters
Houses the finest preserved collection of 12th-century Polonnaruwa period classical murals depicting the Jataka stories and celestial beings.
Description
Built by King Parakramabahu I as part of the Jetavana monastic complex; preserves thick brick corbel-vaulted walls engineered to withstand tropical rainfall. Associated patrons (as supplied): King Parakramabahu I. Key features to look for: Asanka Jataka and Sasa Jataka wall paintings in the vestibule; The thrice-curved (Tivanka) stucco-and-brick Buddha statue; Outer brick plinth sculpted with friezes of dwarfs in comical postures; Corbelled arch brick vault profiles.
Photos
No rights-cleared photographs yet.
Historical and scholarly sources
- Reference as supplied in project dataset (pending verification): UNESCO Ref: 201 (1982)
Visiting responsibly
Dress modestly at religious sites, remove shoes and hats where requested, never climb on monuments or pose with your back to Buddha images, and follow guidance from custodians and the Department of Archaeology.