Ancient city of polonnaruwa is the second ancient capital of sri Lanka after Anuradhapuram . It was a thriving city and business centre in 11 th century almost 800 years ago . In the time of King Parakramabahu 1 this city reached to it’s top . He was master in water conservation and make two big artificial lake , Lake Bendiwa and Parakram samudra for the water shortage in this area . You can still see some of the cannels build by him . This city was abandoned and the new capital was established southeastward when Kalinga and ganga king from India attacked this area .
This area is very old and lots of Buddhiest and Hindu monuments are scattered around this . to see this all you need to cycle at least 20 – 25 km in this area .
How to reach Polonnaruwa ?
I come here from the Dambulla city . It is city situated in the middle of the Sri Lanka . From here , there is direct bus to reach to the Polonnaruwa ancient city Gate and the distance is 70 km . You have to just cross the road and welcome into the ancient city . In the Opposite site of the ancient city there is two big artificial lake named Bindiwewa and Parakram samudra .
Nearest airport to Polonnaruwa is the Sigiriya , Hingurakgoda Airport . Which is still 56 km from the ancient city of Polonnaruwa .
From Colombo , there is direct train toward the Habarana station and there is three traiin daily . From Habarana railway station it is 50 km in distance .
For the wild animals don’t come into road there is electric fencing in the lake side . Be very careful because after a long bus journey you may want to think of urinate here . I was supposed to do that . It may be very dangerous .
Inside the Ancient city there is all together 20-25 km of road . So you must need a bicycle to cover all the parts and monuments inside polonnaruwa .
polonnaruwa attractions :
Gal Vihara (Rock Monastery ) :
Gal Vihara is one of the popular groups of rock cut statues of Goutam buddha in different posture which all are build from a single big rock bolder . The first two statues are in the Sedentary position . There , the first one is bigger than the second one . In the third statue buddha was in standing position of height 7 m and the last one was in the reclying position of length 14 m .
This statues were build in the time of the king Parakrambahu I in between (1153-1186 ). and lost it’s significance after the 13 th century when Kalinga and Magadh empire of india attacked this area . The stories of this temple are noted in the sri Lankan chronicle Mahavamsa .
Polonnaruwa Vatadage :
Vatadage is a old sri lanka style architecture which was build around a small stupa . Somebody says that it was build by Parakrambahu 1 some says it was build by Nissanka malla . But it is prominent that it was build on the relics of buddha or the bowl used by the Buddha . There were four buddha statues around the stupa.
There were ground floor and the upper floor and the inner stupa was walled circulaly . Before the first stair from the ground floor there is a semi circular Sandakada pahans or moonstone . It is made of stone and have very beautiful design . It is mainly used at that time as a Door.
This capital has been destroyed in 1215 when the Ganga dynasty of Kalinga attack polonnaruwa and burned and destoyed lots of ancient structure .
Bathing pool :
Polonnaruwa was the second capital of sri Lanka . For the king’s lavish life style this almost squre pool was build . This structure were build near to the council chamber .
In the middle of the pool there is a lotus island for resting . There two stone mouth of the crocodile from where the fresh water comes into the pool . The building in the right is the changing room of the king .
KIng’s council chamber :
This king’s chamber of council is the place where king and his govt servants meet . It is made by the king Parakrambahu 1 . For reaching this level you have to ride a staircase . In the both side of the staircase there are beautifully carved animals . There were two moonstones , one at the ground floor before the staircase starts and second in the middle of the staircase.
In the king’s chamber there were all together 48 pillars . In each of the pillars the name of the servant used to sit was written .
Lankatilaka :
Lankatilaka is one of the famous architecture in poponnaruwa . It was a five storied building where in the middle there is 41 feet buddha statue where above the shoulder is destroyed . It is build by parakramabahu 1 . This whole buddha statue was build by burned brick . The roof of this building has beenn collapsed and the interior walls have been decorated by intrigate murals .
At the entrance there is two giant pillars . From the outside you can be sured that it is a five storied building.
Galpota (stone book):
This solid stone book is 9 m in length and 1.5 meter in wide . This stone book was almost 25 tonnes in weight and was dragged from Mihintale which is 100 km from this place .
Galpota was build in the time of king Nissanka malla (1187-1196) . This stone inscription was longest in srilanka . The might be a shade on this book to protect it from weathering . this inscription describes the general , heroic and compassionate nature of the king .
The woman figure on the side of the face where water was sprinkled by two elephants are the Godess Gaja Laxmi .
Lata Mandapa :
Nissanka Lata Mandapa was build by the king Nissanka Malla . In this structure the sides are opened and there is a roof to protect from the sun . The king used to listen the chants of the sacred texts and festivals are organised in the rememberance of the dead people .
There were eight coloumns build in a two rows and the midddle of the structure there is a small stupa . The whole structure is surrounded by low walls . There is only one doorway to this structure .
kiri Vehera :
The astonishing fact of this stupa is the white plaster you can see above the stupa is 900 years ago when it was first build by the queen of Parakrambahu “Subhadra “. In singhales language kiri means white , so it is called white stupa .
People think that this place have been the burial place of the king or the high priest . The stupa is situated inside the “Alahana Complex” which is the training place of the monks .
Pothgul Viharaya :
Pothgul Viharaya is an ancient library and monastery where Buddhist monks learn the religious texts . The word pothgul means the bookstore . It is a square shape building where in the four corners there are four small stupas . Monks also reside in this area . This all are the ruins but people think that , in the centre there is a circular structure which was used to store the books .
This Library was build by the king Parakramabahu in the 12 th century and later renovated by his consort Chandrawati . You can still see some paintings which survive the long time .
Medirigiriya Vatadage :
This building was build in the 3 rd century BC but farther developed in the 2nd century and 7 th century . It has 68 stone pillars and four seated buddha statues . It was center of the Meditation and the monastic life .
The craftmanship of the balustrade , moonstone and guardstone are wonderful . It was a protected monument under the archelogical survey of Srilanka .
Thivanka Image house :
In sinhales language thivanka meand three bends . There is large buddha statue which was bend from three areas . Inside it there are beautiful mural paintings which describes the stories of Jataka .
It was build by Parakrambahu in the 12 th century . This is a place of worship and learning .
Rankot Vihara :
Rankot Vihara is an important buddhiest stupa in the Sri Lanka which is build in 12 th century during the kingdom of Nishikant Malla . It’s height is 55 meters and have a circumference of 185 meter . After this structure there was circular pathways of sand .
It was build on the relics of Buddha and It is a major pilgrimage and sacred sited according to buddhiest philosophy .
The Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu :
This was one of the biggest palaace made by Parakrambahu . People belived that it was seven storied high among which only the ground floor stays . It was also known as “Vijayanta Prasad “.
The thick bricked wall in the front side tells that it was at least 3 storied building .
Archeological museum :
This was a museum situated outside the ancient city of polonnarua . In this museum you can see sculptures of Hindus and buddhiest found in this polonnarua area . It also has the coins and pottery section .
It also has the exhibition which shows the dams and the water irrigation system build by Parakrambahu .
Parakram Samudra :
Parakramsamudra was build by the king Parakrambahu . He combines the smaller lakes to make this big lake . It has a large dam which used for the irrigation . His moto was that a single drop of water should not be gone to the sea without the use of manking .
There is a small island inside this lake . This lake has been spread across 22 sq km .
Summary:
Polonnaruwa is the second capital after anuradhapura . It flourishes in the 12 th century . It has stupa , royal palace , Vantage , museum , earthly dam and Many more . It’s ruins says that once it was a thriving city . It also has king’s chamber room and the private swimming pool of king . It has place of 300 acres of the protected ancient city and 22 sq km of Parakram samudra . If you want to stay more than one days you might get hotels in the modern city of polonnaruwa .
