Located in the Polonnaruwa Dalada Maligawa where the Sacred Tooth Relic was located during the Polonnaruwa period, the Nissanka Latha Mandaaya is an ornate pavilion built by King Nissanka Malla for the purpose of pirith chanting. Surrounded by other important ruins of the period, there are many Pasikuda hotels in Sri Lanka from which one can observe this unique location amongst which Uga Bay Resort is a recommended Sri Lanka beach hotel preferred by many who visit this treasure trove of history. This elaborately carved pavilion is surrounded by a fence done with stone work in the middle of which there is a stupa done in stone as well. Within the pavilion, surrounding the Stupa there are eight stone columns amounting to 8 feet in height. These columns unlike the usual stone pillars are not straight but are curved from three places, each resembling the stem of a lotus. The crown of these pillars resembles a blossoming lotus, showcasing the genius of ancient Sri Lankan architecture at its best. These pillars once supposedly supported a roof which was made out of wood that gave shade to the pavilion from the midday heat.
Latha-Mandapaya Pollonaruwa Genius of ancient artistry
