Anuradhapura Gedige

Within the ancient citadel of Anuradhapura, surrounded by far more celebrated monuments, stands the Gedige — a modest yet historically layered structure that has quietly outlasted empires. Built entirely of brick, it represents a distinctive chapter in early Sri Lankan sacred architecture, and its position close to the royal palace and the site now identified as the original Temple of the Tooth makes it far more significant than its weathered exterior suggests.

What is the Anuradhapura Gedige?

The Gedige is a small image house — a type of enclosed Buddhist shrine — measuring approximately 34 by 34 feet and constructed almost entirely from brick. It is one of the only known image houses of its kind in Anuradhapura built without stone walls; only the window frames and entrance door incorporate granite. An adjacent structure of similar size and form stands beside it, and both appear to have originally supported semi-domed roofs, though their ruined state makes precise reconstruction difficult.

The building sits east of the site identified as the Temple of the Tooth and north-east of the palace attributed to King Vijayabahu. Its location within the inner citadel — the political and religious heart of the ancient kingdom — implies that it once held considerable ceremonial or religious importance, even if the historical record remains incomplete.

What is the history behind the Gedige?

The structure is believed to have been destroyed during the Chola invasion of 948 AD, when much of Anuradhapura's sacred precinct suffered significant damage. It was subsequently rebuilt by King Mahinda IV, who reigned from approximately 956 to 972 AD, as part of broader efforts to restore the city's religious infrastructure.

According to historical accounts, the building may have served as a repository for the Dhammadatu — a sacred text said to have been brought to Sri Lanka in the sixth century. More recently, Sri Lanka's Department of Archaeology undertook a detailed re-examination of the structure and identified it, at least tentatively, as the original housing for the Tooth Relic of the Buddha. The relic is traditionally believed to have arrived on the island in the fourth century AD and to have been kept first at the Abhayagiri Monastery complex before being moved to successive purpose-built shrines.

The renaming of the Gedige as an early 'Temple of the Tooth' by the Archaeological Department represents one of the more significant reassessments of Anuradhapura's sacred topography in recent decades, though scholarly discussion on the matter continues.

What makes the Gedige architecturally distinctive?

Most surviving image houses in Anuradhapura combine brick with substantial stone elements — pillared halls, moonstone thresholds, carved granite doorways. The Gedige departs from this pattern. Its walls are entirely brick, and the use of granite is restricted to the door surround and window frames, suggesting either a different building tradition or a period of reconstruction that worked with available materials.

The adjacent structure, which mirrors the Gedige in approximate scale and construction method, raises further questions. Whether the two buildings served complementary religious functions, or whether one preceded the other as part of a phased construction programme, is not yet established with certainty. Together they form the only surviving pair of all-brick image houses within the Anuradhapura sacred precinct.

Where exactly is the Gedige located within Anuradhapura?

The Gedige sits inside the ancient citadel walls, placing it in close proximity to the administrative and ceremonial core of the Anuradhapura kingdom. It lies to the east of the structure now identified as the original Temple of the Tooth and to the north-east of the remains attributed to King Vijayabahu's palace. The Abhayagiri Monastery complex — one of the largest religious institutions of the ancient world — is situated nearby to the north.

Visitors to Anuradhapura's sacred area will generally pass through this zone when exploring the citadel on foot or by bicycle, though the Gedige does not always feature prominently on standard tour itineraries. It rewards those who look beyond the headline monuments.

How does the Gedige fit into Anuradhapura's broader heritage?

Anuradhapura was the first capital of the Sinhalese kings and one of the longest continuously inhabited cities of the ancient world, serving as the political and religious centre of Sri Lanka for over a millennium. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its sacred precinct contains some of the oldest Buddhist monuments anywhere on the planet — among them the Sri Maha Bodhi, a living tree grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the great dagobas of Ruwanwelisaya and Jetavanaramaya.

The Gedige occupies a quieter corner of this landscape, but it speaks directly to the city's layered history: to the cycles of destruction and reconstruction that characterised the Anuradhapura period, to the centrality of relic veneration in early Sri Lankan Buddhism, and to the variety of architectural solutions that ancient builders employed for sacred purposes. For travellers with an interest in archaeology or religious history, it offers a more contemplative encounter than the larger monuments nearby.

Those planning a wider exploration of Sri Lanka's ancient cities may also want to visit Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital that succeeded Anuradhapura and preserves its own remarkable concentration of royal and religious architecture.

How do I get to the Anuradhapura Gedige?

Anuradhapura is accessible by train and road from Colombo, with the journey taking roughly four to five hours by express train. The city also has a small domestic airport with connections from Ratmalana. Within the sacred area, the most practical way to move between sites is by bicycle, which can be hired from guesthouses and rental shops near the main entrance. Tuk-tuks are also widely available for those who prefer not to cycle in the heat.

Entry to the Anuradhapura Sacred Area requires a ticket, which covers access to the main archaeological zone. The Gedige lies within this area, so no separate admission is needed once you hold the standard entrance ticket.