Nissanka Latha Mandapaya

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Jonathan Chiu - Google

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is the “Pirith Mandapaya” of King Nishanka Malla. A Pirith Mandapaya is where Buddhist monks chant verses and scriptures of Buddhist doctrines. This exquisite “Pirith Mandapaya” consists of an elevated stage with eight carved stone pillars resembling lotus stalks with an unopened buds on top and a small stone stupa in the middle.

The 12th century “Pirith Mandapaya” is one of the iconic structures in Polonnaruwa. The stage is guarded by a stone fence. A stone inscription suggests that King Nishanka Malla used to sit within this stage to listen to Pirith. 

The stone pillars are about 8 feet tall and curved in three places, were holding a roof to provide shelter to the king and the monks chanting Pirith.