Vatadage

Sacred Center, Polonnaruwa

Vatadage is a general architectural term, not a specific place-name; it means a stupa, erected upon a circular platform, and enclosed by a two-part roof. The top part of the roof is conical or bell-shaped, and the lower part is an annular surrounding eave. The roof is supported on pillars, like those seen here. The building has symmetrical entrances at each of the four cardinal directions (see following pages).