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Front view of the Jethawana Image House with ancient architecture

Jethawanaramaya Image House – Preserving the Beautiful Heritage of Buddhism

Jethawanaramaya Image House – Preserving the Beautiful Heritage of Buddhism

✈️ Why should you visit Sigiriya?

The Jethawanaramaya Image House in Anuradhapura is a significant *Gedige*-style ancient Buddhist shrine notable for its massive stone door frame and evidence of once housing a colossal Buddha statue.
  • Colossal Buddha Image Housing: The building is notable for its massive 8-meter (27-foot) tall monolithic stone door frame, which indicates it once sheltered a colossal standing Buddha image (estimated 37 feet / 11.3 meters high, likely constructed of limestone or similar material).
  • Architectural Pioneer (Gedige Style): It is a significant example of the Gedige-type (vaulted) image house, an architectural style that later influenced and was continued in major Polonnaruwa structures like the Thuparama, Lankatilaka, and Tivanka Image Houses.
  • Gedige Style Design: The Image House is classified as a Gedige-type (vaulted brick roof) building, featuring a main shrine area and antechamber, with indications of entrances and subsidiary shrines.
  • Intact Lotus Pedestal and Reliquary: The site still contains the lotus pedestal (Padmasana) where the massive Buddha statue once stood, as well as the unique twenty-five-chamber stone reliquary (Yantragala) of the shrine.
  • Location in a Major Monastery: It is the main image house within the colossal Jetawanarama Stupa monastery complex, making it a key religious structure of the later Anuradhapura Period.

Entity

Government

Entrance

Paid

Wheelchair Access

No

Water

Available

Restaurants

Available

Toilets

Available

District: Anuradhapura

Reach

Any vehicle

Road Quality

Good

Public Transport

Available

Jethawana Image House located in the sacred city of Anuradhapura
Ancient Buddhist monument Jethawana Image House in Sri Lanka
Old brick structure of Jethawana Image House under blue sky
Historical ruins of Jethawana Monastery in Anuradhapura

Guidelines

Photography Restrictions : Always ask permission before taking photos. Avoid taking selfies with Buddha statues or posing with your back to them. Cleanliness & Preservation : Do not litter or damage ancient structures. Dispose of waste properly and avoid leaning on walls or carvings. Conduct & Offerings : Avoid loud conversations, and make offerings (flowers, incense) respectfully. Alcohol, smoking, and eating are not allowed inside the premises. Respect for Sacred Space : Maintain silence and behave respectfully inside the temple premises. Do not touch statues or sacred objects.