Heritage
Polonnaruwa
A compact medieval capital of palaces, monasteries, reservoirs, and sculpted Buddhas from Sri Lanka's 12th-century royal high point.
North Central Province
- Altitude
- 60 m
- Coordinates
- 7.940°, 81.019°
Altitude60m
Suggested stay1–2 days
Difficultyeasy
Nearest cityPolonnaruwa
Current Weather
About this place
Polonnaruwa succeeded Anuradhapura as a major capital and preserves one of Sri Lanka's most legible archaeological landscapes. UNESCO identifies it as the island's second capital after Anuradhapura's destruction in 993, with Chola-period Brahmanic monuments and the garden-city ruins created by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. The site is easier to cover than Anuradhapura because its core monuments sit in a more compact zone. Travelers should allow enough time for the Royal Palace group, Quadrangle, Gal Vihara, and the great reservoir of Parakrama Samudra.
Plate I
Location
North Central Province
7.940°N · 81.019°E
7.9403°N, 81.0188°E