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Ancient Hospital in Medirigiriya
Medirigiriya Vatadage is an ancient structure located in Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle links to Srilankan history and culture. This architectural jewel is one a small rock,
A perfectly squared shaped building situated 50 metres North of Medirigiriya Vatadage is identified as an advanced ancient hospital. The building is constructed as two squares occupying an area of 249.64 square metres. The outer square has 33 stone pillars and the inner square has 20 pillars. Inner square court has rooms with doors for inmates and a corridor encircles it. THe main entrance is on the east side of the complex.
A well preserved medicine boat too can be seen here which is a common feature in all ancient hospitals. This boat is made out of hard rock so that the medicine would not absorb on the rock. The cavity is built to fit any human. The stone trough used for immersion therapy is now placed near the image house by the Department of Archaeology with the purpose of safekeeping. This has an external length of 2.3 metres, weight of 0.64 metres and 0.58 metres of height.
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********** A few miles west of Polonnaruwa is the fascinating Medirigiriya. Dating back to the Anuradhapura period, a massive monastery complex Medirigiriya Vatadage stood here and today the main attraction is the Medirigiriya Vatadage (ancient structure). Once a place of worship, this ancient structure with a stupa (hemispherical structure containing relics) in the middle was built on a small rock circled by three concentric rings of pillars and four Buddhist statues that are all still intact, brahmi characters are etched in the stone, however the stupa (hemispherical structure containing relics) no longer remains.
Several constructions are found around the main structure including Pichcha-mal Viharaya, image houses with forms of the Buddha, a stupa (hemispherical structure containing relics) house with Buddha in a resting pose and a beheh oruwa (medicine boat). Meander around the surroundings and see ponds, a cave, an ancient hospital, ruins and historical artefacts. A fascinating architectural location, Medirigiriya is a fine example of stone craft. Set in a natural reserve it offers a tranquillity that make visiting worthwhile. **********
Lotus Pond
Lotus pond is a historic architecture which is a flawlessly constructed bath of Polonnaruwa Kingdom by King Parakramabahu the Great. This frigid bath pond is found near King Parakramabahu’s palace is mostly known by the name Nelum Pokuna owing to it's shape of a lotus pond where Nelum means lotus and pokuna is pond.
Lotus pond is a modest dimension of baths with eight layers designed like lotus petals in a descending order. It is made using fine cut granite and the top fully bloomed lotus petal layer has a diameter of 24 feet 9 inches and the bottom inner layer has a diameter of 5 feet 4 inches.
Nelum Pokuna lies in a garden with gorgeous flowering plants gives an overwhelming and pleasant feeling. Moreover, this is excellent evidence to praise the ancient architecture of Sri Lanka.
Burial Stupa
Having an extent of 35 hectares this is the largest monastery complex in Polonnaruwa extending from here up to Gal Vihara. Established by King Parakramabahu the Great 1153-1186 A.D. the name suggest that site had been a formed cremation ground with has been confirmed by archeological excavate carried out here were build on the cremation sites of prelates or of the Royalty. The monastery has a terraced layout Kiri Vehera, Lankatilake Image House Buddha sima presada and the small stupas (some of them are crematory stupas) are located on the two upper terraces while the monastic hospital ponds and hundreds of resident Monks cells are located on the lower terraces.
Deepa Uyana
Deepa Uyana is a park situated outside and to the west side of the Palace of King Parakramabahu the Great, extending to the shores of the Parakrama Samudraya. The council chamber of King Nissanka Malla is believed to lie here. In the past, Deepa Uyana was referred to as the Dipuyyana in Pali which translates to “an Island Garden”. Inscriptions state that King Nissanka Malla had renamed the Deepa Uyana as “Kalinga Uyana”.
