CityBuddy
Sathmahal Prasada
Best time to visit
In the early morning (7:00-9:00) or late afternoon (16:00-17:30), when the raking light sculpts the bricks and the shadows of the seven stories create a dramatic effect on the facades.
Budget tips
Entry is included in the combined ticket for the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Park ($25 for foreigners, $10 for SAARC). Keep your ticket as it is valid for a full day at all sites in the area.
Recommended for
Archaeology enthusiasts and unsolved mystery lovers, Photographers looking for architectural geometries, Travelers who want to avoid the crowd and discover less beaten paths
Plan your visit
20-30 minutes
About
Quick facts: Climb to the seventh floor and you will still see the holes for the wooden beams that once supported the floors, a true stone skeleton open to the sky. No one knows for sure who built it: perhaps King Parakramabahu, perhaps Chinese merchants, perhaps a forgotten Hindu temple.
Highlights: Unlike the other structures of Polonnaruwa, this seven-story tower has a pyramidal shape unique in Sri Lanka, almost like a Chinese pagoda grown in Sinhalese soil. Try standing at the center of the north side: from there the entire structure aligns perfectly with the summer solstice sunrise, an astronomical alignment that few visitors notice.
Insider tips
- Bring a hat and plenty of water: the structure is completely outdoors and the reflection of the sun on the white bricks is already very strong by 9:00.
- Shoot from the southwest side at dawn to have the seven levels perfectly lit with no tourists in the background.
- Don't limit yourself to the ground floor: climb all the way to the top, the view of the surrounding forest and the nearby Reclining Buddha Temple is worth the hike.
- Combine the visit with the adjacent Vatadage and the Reclining Buddha Temple, all reachable on foot in 5 minutes.
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