SriLankaView by www.srilankaview.com The Virtual Traveller to SriLanka
The sculpturing of the Gal Viharaya Buddha Image is a fine feat in Srilankan Architecture of early period. This is the figure of the Buddha in deep meditation with a Halo behind the head and an ornamental arch is carved in the background with Makara or Dragon figures. This is called as Nisinnapatimalena or the 'Image House of the seated Buddha'.
These buried ruins were discovered in 1820 , that was built by King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 AD). The magnificient Buddha figures cut on a rock with a front end length of 168 feet, and the height of the rock drops down at both ends gradually. The face of the rock is cut back 15 feet for the creation of Buddha statues.
The sculpturing of the four Buddha images in this rock is said to be the " the most impressive antiquity par excellence to be seen in the Island of Ceylon and not rivalled through out the continent of India." by The Commissioner of Archaeological Survey of Ceylon- 1907
Reference- "Polonnaruwa"- Anuradha Seneviratna