Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka , Buddhist Structure Vatadageya Stock Photo

This is a type of Buddhist structure found in cylon. It also known as a dage, thupagara and a cetiyagara. Although it may have had some Indian influence, it is a construct that is more or less unique to the architecture of ancient Sri Lanka. Vatadages were built around small stupas for their protection, which often preserved a relic or were built on hallowed ground. Circular in shape, they were commonly built of stone and brick and adorned with extravagant stone carvings. Vatadages may have also had a wooden roof, supported by a number of stone columns arranged in several concentric rows.