Dipa Uyana (Polonnaruwa)

Dipa Uyana (lit: the Island Park) is an archaeological site situated in the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. 

History

This site has been identified as the Dipa Uyana (the Island Park) built by King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186 A.D.). It is said that Parakramabahu I built several building within it such as Dhavalagharaya (the White edifice), Vijjamandapa, Dolamandapa (the Swing Pavilion), Kilamandapa (the Sports Pavilion), Sanimandapa (the Pavilion of Saturn), Moramandapa (the Peacock Pavilion), Adasamandapa (the Mirror Pavilion), Singaravimana, and ponds named Anantapokkharani and Cittapokkharani [(the Picture Pond) Nicholas, 1963]. This site was reserved for the use of the king and the court (Nicholas, 1963).

However, the ruins of the buildings presently found on the premises of Dipa Uyana are not comparable with any of the buildings mentioned above (Nicholas, 1963). It has been proved that King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.) considerably altered the initial arrangement of Dipa Uyana constructed by Parakramabahu I (Nicholas, 1963). A few inscriptions erected by Nissankamalla in the Dipa Uyana premises reveal the identity of two buildings; viz: the Council Chamber of Nissankamalla and a stone bathing pond that had been used by him (Nicholas, 1963). Also, an inscription found on a stone slab records that it was the seat used by Nissankamalla while watching dancing and listening to music in the Kalinga Uyana (the Kalinga Park). If this stone slab is still stands in its original location and not has been moved to here from elsewhere, then it has to be assumed that the Dipa Uyana was renamed the Kalinga Park by Nissankamalla (Nicholas, 1963).

The site

The site is located to the west of the walls of the Palace of Parakramabahu I and extends up to the verge of the Parakrama Samudra reservoir (Wikramagamage, 2004). The ruins of many important monuments including the Council Chamber and the Audience Hall of Nissankamalla are located within this premises. To the extreme south of the site is a bathing pond which could be the Ananta Naga Pokuna (Anantapokkharani) built by King Parakramabahu the Great. The water to the pond had been supplied from the Parakrama Samudra reservoir by using a conduit (Wikramagamage, 2004). The ruins of a building, probably a summer house is found on a small nearby island located in the Parakrama Samudra reservoir (Wikramagamage, 2004). 

References

1) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). pp.176-177.
2) Wikramagamage, C., 2004. Heritage of Rajarata: Major natural, cultural, and historic sites. Colombo. Central Bank of Sri Lanka. pp.204-205.