Polonnaruwa

Aggrandized in two sacred chronicles of Sri Lanka, the Mahavamsa and the Chulavamsa, Polonnaruwa has a great history of conquest and struggle behind it and rightfully forms the third element in the Cultural Triangle. Located about 140 kms north east from Kandy, Polonnaruwa offers hours of endless pleasure for history and culture lovers, as there are numerous sights of significance.

 
Much of the physical ruins standing today are credited to King Parakrama Bahu I who spent many royal resources on town planning, including parks, edifices, irrigation systems and so on. The period of his rule is considered a golden age where the kingdom thrived and prospered under a visionary ruler. The Parakrama Samudra is a mammoth tank and named after its patron. The popular king’s Royal Palace, the Audience Hall encircled by beautifully carved stone elephants and the Bathing Pool reflect the superior engineering capabilities of the time. The Vatadage or circular relic house and the Thuparama image house are two other attractions not to be missed. There are many more ancient ruins in the vicinity clustered within what is called the Quadrangle and a ticket bought at the entrance to this sprawling enclosure ensures that you can browse through all the significant sites without missing out on any. Even outside this enclosure, the city offers many more ancient ruins of fortifications, temples and buildings that are too numerous to list here, but a visit to the Polonnaruwa Visitor Information Centre and Museum at the outset before exploring the city will offer you the right perspective. The remains of the 13-century built Siva Devale are also worth a visit.  Also a prominent capital once, soon after Anuradhapura’s downfall, Polonnaruwa too is another UNESCO World Heritage Site.