Thivanka Image House
Thivanka Image House
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Thivanka Image House and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
31 within 3 miles
Attractions
25 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
88 reviews
Excellent
43
Very good
35
Average
9
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Kai Wah
Malaysia3,773 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This is one of my favourite parts of the ruins at Polonnaruwa Ancient Site. Another awe-inspiring architecture built by the King Parakramabahu, The Great since 12th century. Intricate details of carvings of the exterior complex with amazing murals/ wall paintings at the interior of the structure with three massive Buddha statues housed here, hence the given name as Thivanka which literally means three curves. No photo-takings allowed inside the complex in order to protect the murals. Must-visit as part of the sites at Polonnaruwa Ancient Site with entrance fee of USD25. Well worth the penny especially for history buff!
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob
Dublin, Ireland2,928 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
This is the most northerly point in Polonnaruwa but it's worth making the journey up no matter what form of transport you are using. It's a fairly crumbling building but they built a canopy over it to help preserve it. Some parts are fairly intact and others well less so. you can go inside but you are lot allowed take any pictures so if you just have to visit yourself to see what it's like. Trust me it's worth it!
Written 3 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M H
Darlington1,181 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
We visited the Image House early in the morning and, therefore, had the place (almost) to ourselves. Despite the outside being covered in scaffolding, it's still possible to see some fantastic stone carvings (quite unlike anything we'd seen in Anuradhapura).
The inside of the Image House has a church-like feel to it and the keeper opened a small door so that we could walk in the corridor which runs behind the giant headless Buddha. Although the murals are worn, they're still worthy of inspection.
Overall, one of the better monuments that we saw in either Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa.
The inside of the Image House has a church-like feel to it and the keeper opened a small door so that we could walk in the corridor which runs behind the giant headless Buddha. Although the murals are worn, they're still worthy of inspection.
Overall, one of the better monuments that we saw in either Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa.
Written 16 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic8,504 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
At the time that I visited the place, ti seems that the place was undergoing some reconstruction, or that it needed to start to be permanently protected from rain, as it was completely covered under scaffold tin roof.
I liked the ornaments on the outside part of the building - some statues were really preserved and very detailed. It must had been a lot of work to create them.
I liked the ornaments on the outside part of the building - some statues were really preserved and very detailed. It must had been a lot of work to create them.
Written 2 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mkris9
Southampton, UK481 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
This image house has drawings that was done a couple of centuries ago. I'm glad that i included this to our schedule. Good if you have a guide with you or atleast a guide book is mandatory as either of them will explain the relevance and meaning of the drawings.
Written 24 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prasanna
Panadura, Sri Lanka3,580 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
If you have visited / heard of Sigiriya ( Lion Rock) world heritage frescos, This is another place but more accessible and ground level . Unlike Sigiriya this frescos are painted on the wall of a Buddhist temple.
Written 22 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nimitta
Manchester, UK594 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Beautiful image house both inside and out which is currently having a huge roof constructed over the whole site for its preservation and protection. A headless standing Buddha inside, as well as the remains of beautiful paintings and artwork and wonderful carvings. Very close to Gal Vihara and the two should be visited together.
Written 1 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter M
Melbourne, Australia1,293 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
This in in Polonnaruva Sri Lanka. It was constructed by King Parakamabahu 1 (1153-1188). It is famous for its 100 paintings. It was covered by jungle for 500 years and rediscovered in 1855 by SM Burrows
Written 14 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DipuKV
Pune, India3,170 contributions
Dec 2019
Buddha statues, image houses, stupas galore! The Thivanka image house gives you a good glimpse of the beauty of the place!
Written 13 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zaawaaz
Singapore, Singapore118 contributions
Nov 2019
A clean place, and really hope when the visitors are inside the main area that they do not speak loudly as it is quite not so good ettiquette. Otherwise it is quite a spruced up building and the carvings are quite visible. Inside you can see some beautiful paintings. 15-minute visit.
Written 14 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing