Quick answer
Polonnaruwa's Sacred Quadrangle, the Dalada Maluwa, is a raised terrace of 12th-century shrines in the heart of the ancient city. Its centrepiece is the Vatadage, a circular relic house with four seated Buddhas facing four entrances, each with a moonstone. Around it stand the Hatadage and Atadage, both built to house the Tooth Relic, the Gal Pota stone book, the seven-storey Satmahal Prasada and the Latha Mandapaya with lotus-stalk pillars. Allow an hour, early morning, and remove shoes at each shrine.
Key takeaways
- The Sacred Quadrangle, or Dalada Maluwa, is the most concentrated group of monuments in Polonnaruwa.
- Polonnaruwa's Vatadage is a circular relic house with four seated Buddha images facing four entrances, each with a carved moonstone.
- The Hatadage and Atadage were both built to house the Tooth Relic, under Nissanka Malla and Vijayabahu I respectively.
- The Gal Pota, or stone book, is a slab roughly 8 metres long inscribed with Nissanka Malla's achievements.
- The Satmahal Prasada is a stepped, seven-storey structure whose design recalls temples in Southeast Asia.
What the Sacred Quadrangle is
The Sacred Quadrangle, called Dalada Maluwa in Sinhala, is a raised, walled terrace at the heart of Polonnaruwa's ancient city. Dalada means the Tooth Relic, and the quadrangle grew around shrines built to house it, because possession of the relic gave a king legitimacy.
Most of the buildings date from the 11th and 12th centuries, under Vijayabahu I, Parakramabahu I and Nissanka Malla. Packed into a small area, they make the quadrangle the richest single stop in Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa's ruins are laid out along a road from the archaeological museum north to Gal Vihara. The Sacred Quadrangle lies between the royal palace and the northern monasteries, so most visitors reach it mid-morning.
- →Dalada Maluwa: the terrace of the Tooth Relic.
- →11th to 12th centuries.
- →A dozen or so monuments close together.
The Vatadage
The Vatadage is the Sacred Quadrangle's centrepiece and one of the finest buildings in Sri Lanka. It is a circular relic house built around a small stupa, with a raised platform, a brick wall and rings of stone pillars that once probably supported a roof. Four entrances face the cardinal points.
Each entrance has a carved moonstone, guardstones and steps leading to a seated Buddha facing outward. The Polonnaruwa moonstones omit the bull found in Anuradhapura designs. Its builder is debated, with Parakramabahu I and Nissanka Malla both credited.
Shoes come off at the base. The stone platform is fully exposed and heats quickly, so visit before about 10am.
- →Circular relic house with four entrances.
- →Four seated Buddhas facing outward.
- →Moonstones and guardstones at each entrance.
- →Hot by late morning; visit early.
The other monuments
Around the Vatadage, the Sacred Quadrangle holds several other monuments. The Hatadage, built by Nissanka Malla, housed the Tooth Relic, and its name is often explained as built in sixty days. The Atadage, built by Vijayabahu I, is the oldest building in the quadrangle and also housed the relic.
The Gal Pota, or stone book, is a slab about 8 metres long carved with Nissanka Malla's achievements and claims, said to have been brought from Mihintale. The Satmahal Prasada is a stepped, seven-storey structure, unusual in Sri Lanka, whose design recalls temples in Cambodia or Thailand.
The Latha Mandapaya is a small pavilion with stone pillars carved like curving lotus stalks, where Nissanka Malla is said to have listened to chanting. The Thuparama gedige, just outside, is a vaulted image house with its roof largely intact.
- →Hatadage: Tooth Relic shrine of Nissanka Malla.
- →Atadage: oldest building, Vijayabahu I.
- →Gal Pota: the stone book.
- →Satmahal Prasada: seven-storey stepped structure.
- →Latha Mandapaya: lotus-stalk pillars.
Visiting tips
Visit the Sacred Quadrangle early, ideally before 10am, when the stone is cool and the light soft. It is covered by the Polonnaruwa ticket, roughly US$25 to US$30 for foreign adults, bought at the ticket office beside the archaeological museum, not at the quadrangle itself.
Allow about an hour. Remove shoes and hats at each shrine, cover shoulders and knees, and never pose with your back to a Buddha. Lankan Stays & Trails guides usually start at the museum at 7am, then cycle to the royal palace and the quadrangle before the heat.
- →Buy tickets at the museum first.
- →Visit before about 10am.
- →Allow about an hour.
- →Socks help on hot stone.
Where it fits in a Polonnaruwa visit
The Sacred Quadrangle sits in the middle of a typical Polonnaruwa route. Start at the archaeological museum and ticket office, continue to Parakramabahu's royal palace and council chamber, then the quadrangle, then north to Rankoth Vehera, the Alahana Pirivena with Lankatilaka and Kiri Vehera, and finally Gal Vihara.
By bicycle, the whole route takes three to four hours. Finish at Gal Vihara before late morning if possible, and save Parakrama Samudra for a late-afternoon view.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sacred Quadrangle in Polonnaruwa?
The Sacred Quadrangle, or Dalada Maluwa, is a raised terrace of 11th and 12th-century shrines in the heart of Polonnaruwa, built around the Tooth Relic. It includes the Vatadage, Hatadage, Atadage, Gal Pota, Satmahal Prasada and Latha Mandapaya.
What is the Polonnaruwa Vatadage?
A circular relic house built around a small stupa, with four entrances, each with a moonstone, guardstones and a seated Buddha facing outward. It is one of the finest buildings in Sri Lanka and the centrepiece of the Sacred Quadrangle.
What is the Gal Pota?
The Gal Pota, or stone book, is a granite slab about 8 metres long inscribed with the achievements and claims of King Nissanka Malla. It is said to have been brought from Mihintale and lies beside the Hatadage.
How long do you need at the Sacred Quadrangle?
About an hour to see the Vatadage, Hatadage, Atadage, Gal Pota, Satmahal Prasada and Latha Mandapaya. Visit early, before the stone terraces heat up, as part of a three to four-hour Polonnaruwa route.
Where do I buy tickets for the Sacred Quadrangle?
At the Polonnaruwa ticket office beside the archaeological museum, at the southern end of the site. Tickets are not sold at the quadrangle, so buy one before setting off. Roughly US$25 to US$30 for foreign adults.
Do you take shoes off at the Vatadage?
Yes. Remove shoes and hats before climbing onto the Vatadage platform and at the other shrines. The stone gets very hot by late morning, so visit early and carry thin socks.
What is the Satmahal Prasada?
A stepped, seven-storey structure in the Sacred Quadrangle, unusual in Sri Lanka. Its design recalls temples in Cambodia or Thailand, perhaps reflecting links with Southeast Asia in the 12th century.