The circular building known as a vatadage was constructed to house and protect a dagoba built to enshrine the sacred relics of the Buddha.

The Medirigiriya Vatadage is also known as the Madalagiri Vihara and was thought to have been built during Pre- Christian times. However, the existing vatadage built around the old chetiya belongs to the period of King Agbo (667-683AD) and is thought to have been constructed by King Malaya. It is also said that King Udaya , the brother of King Sena donated his wealth to the Medirigiri Vihara. History also says that King Nissankamlla reconstructed achetiya in the ground.

The MedirigiriyaVatadage is on a high circular stage.It has three circles of concentric ( with the same centre ) pillars; the innermost circle has 16 pillars, the middle line has 20 while the outermost circle has 32 pillars.The tops of these pillars are similar in appearance to the pillars at the Thuparama Dagobe in Anuradhapura. Between the middle and outer circles of pillars is a circular brick wall with four doorways opening onto the four sides.

Around the outermost circle of pillars is a decorated stone wall about three and a half feet high. All stone pillars around this vatadage are still standing four large seated Buddha statues are built facing the four directions.

Another superb creation is the stairway comprising 27 granite steps to climb up to the vatadage .

Close to the vatadage, discoveries had been made of the ruins of an old hospital and a temple building which was 50 feet by 33 feet. There are remains of a herbal medicine bath shaped like the lower half of a coffin.

The vatadage is similar in appearance to other vatadges at Polonnaruwa and Thiriyaya.

Although the Polonnaru Vatadage is located amidst many other ruins, the Medirigiya one stands alone on top of a small hill.

As it is an isolated spot, it doesn't attract as many visitors as the one at Polonaruwa.

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