The short answer
Hatadage: what visitors should know first
Worth 15 to 20 minutes as part of the quadrangle walk. Visit it after the Vatadage, whose south entrance faces it, and look for the three granite Buddhas inside the walled chamber.
History and context
The story behind Hatadage
King Nissanka Malla, who reigned from 1187 to 1196, built the Hatadage to house the tooth relic. Inscriptions claim it was built in sixty hours, which most historians treat as a boast rather than an exact record.
The building was originally two storeys, with a brick-and-stone lower level and a wooden upper structure. Only the lower level and some stonework survive.
Useful facts
Hatadage facts at a glance
- Location
- Northern edge of the Sacred Quadrangle, Polonnaruwa
- Built
- Reign of Nissanka Malla (1187-1196)
- Purpose
- Shrine for the Buddha's tooth relic
- Images
- Three granite Buddhas, the central one about 9 ft tall
- Structure
- Stone and brick, enclosed by a wall about 120 by 90 ft
- Facing
- South entrance faces the Vatadage
Why it matters
Why Hatadage is worth your time
Hatadage is useful for understanding how Polonnaruwa's kings housed relics. It was meant to hold the Buddha's tooth relic, which was the main symbol of royal legitimacy in Sri Lanka, and its two-storey design with an enclosing wall shows that the building was a serious investment.
The name is also a small puzzle. Some read it as a reference to sixty hours of construction, a claim that appears in inscriptions, while others link it to sixty relics. The story is a reminder that the guide's version and the written record do not always match, and that is part of the interest of walking through the ruins with a knowledgeable guide.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Three Buddhas
The central granite figure stands about 9 feet high, with two companions.
- 02
The surviving columns
Only three of the original sixteen columns remain in the main chamber.
- 03
A vanished upper floor
The staircase in the outer chamber shows where the wooden second storey stood.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Hatadage stands on the northern side of the Sacred Quadrangle, facing the Vatadage. Enter through the outer chamber, which has six stone columns and a staircase to what was once an upper storey, then step into the square main chamber. Three granite Buddha statues stand inside, with the central one about 9 feet tall.
Look at the surviving columns: the room once had sixteen, and only three remain. The walls are brick faced with stone slabs, and the wooden superstructure and tiled roof that crowned it have gone. Stand back near the entrance to take in the proportions, then walk around the outside wall to see how the building sat within its enclosure.
The shrine takes less time than the Vatadage, so it makes a good short pause between longer stops. Take off your shoes where asked, and expect a mid-morning crowd of tour groups.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Visit after the Vatadage so you see the facing entrances
- Take off shoes where asked
- Avoid late morning when tour groups arrive
- Use a guide to explain the sixty-hour claim
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Sacred Quadrangle (Dalada Maluva), northern edge, Polonnaruwa
- Time needed
- 15 to 25 minutes
- Best time
- Early morning
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Short level walk from the Vatadage. There are a few steps at the entrance and plenty of bare stone with little shade. It is a short stop, so older visitors can manage it comfortably.
- Tickets and access
- Foreigners pay a higher fee than residents, and the Polonnaruwa ticket is sold by the Central Cultural Fund. Check the current price, the booking method and opening hours before you go, and keep the ticket with you because it may be checked at several points in the park.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Hatadage
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Short level walk from the Vatadage. There are a few steps at the entrance and plenty of bare stone with little shade. It is a short stop, so older visitors can manage it comfortably.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Why is it called Hatadage?
The name is usually explained by an inscription's claim that it was built in sixty hours, though some link it to sixty relics.
Does Hatadage still hold a relic?
No. It is a ruin, and the tooth relic that Sri Lankans venerate is now kept in Kandy.
Is it far from the Vatadage?
No. The two stand in the same quadrangle, and the Hatadage entrance faces the Vatadage.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
