Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's splendid medieval capital was established as the first city of the land in the 11th Century, A.D. It replaced Anuradhapura, plundered made desolate, and laid hopelessly bare to the invading armies from South India. Three Kings dominate the annals of the city and the period.

The city reached a dazzling but pitifully brief zenith in the 12th century and though ravaged by invasion in the centuries following, much evidence remains of the old grandeur and glory.

The ruins of the ancient city stand on the east shore of a large artificial lake, the Topa Wewa Lake, or Parakrama Samudra (the Sea of Parakrama), created by King Parakramabahu I (1153-86), whose reign was Polonnaruwa's golden age. Within a rectangle of city walls stand palace buildings and clusters of dozens of dagobas, temples and various other religious buildings.

A scattering of other historic buildings can be found to the north of the main complex, outside the city walls and close to the main road to Habarana and Dambulla.

To see many of the relics excavated from the site such as the stone lion which once guarded the palace of King Nissanka Malla, or the fine Hindu bronzes unearthed from the ruins of the Siva Devale Temple - you may have to visit the National Museum in Colombo, where they are kept. However, with the opening of the new Polonnaruwa Visitor Information Centre and its museum in 1998/9 some of the key exhibits were scheduled to return to the place where they were discovered.

» Parakrama Samudra One of the most striking features in Polonnaruwa is the vast Parakrama Samudra, of 5,940 acres, an irrigation tank built, as the name indicates by King Parakramabahu the Great, and so well named his `Sea'. Close by are the ruins of the Kings (King Nissanka Malla) Council Chamber on whose pillars are inscribed the status and titles of various officials of the kingdom.

» Statue of King Parakramabahu On the Southern side of the Parakrama Samudra and south of the picturesque lakeside Resthouse is another well known Polonnaruwa monument - a striking stone colossus of a bearded man holding in his hands what seems to be a yoke. The care-worn expression hints at royalty (heads that wear crowns seem universally to be uneasy!) and popular belief identifies it as Parakramabahu the Great.

» Palace and Royal Pavilion Enclosed by ramparts four leagues long and seven leagues wide the Royal Citadel has many interesting monuments. Parakramabahu's Palace must have been an imposing edifice once, richly decorated and seven storeys high: the remaining walls of the palace are of extra-ordinary thickness and the drainage system is intriguing. A little further on is the handsome royal bath, the Kumara Pokuna. Across the way is the beautiful Royal Audience Hall - embellished with lion portals, graceful pillars and a moonstone. (a delicately carved stepping stone). The structural techniques of this period were the same as those of the Anuradhapura period, but there was a greater use of lime mortar, which enabled the building of brick structures of dimensions never before attempted.

» Potgul Vehera The statue faces the Potgul Vehera, an interesting feature of which is a circular, shrine, built of brick. Tall timber, scions of a royal parkland of long ago, casts a chequered, welcome shade.

» Siva Devale Siva Devale 1 A Hindu Temple of chaste and restrained line dedicated to God Siva of 12th century vintage. Siva Devale 2 Past the north gate of the citadel is the 11th century Hindu temple with some very well preserved stone work. This is the oldest identifiable building in Polonnaruwa.

» The Thuparama This oblong brick image house occupies the south-west corner of the adjoining quadrangle.

» The Vatadage This circular relic house possesses an elegance and beauty that is rare even in ancient Sri Lanka. In line with the outer circle of stone pillars is a tastefully ornamented screen wall patterned with four petalled flowers. The flights of access stairs at the cardinal points are beautifully carved. At the head of each flight is a Buddha statue in stone. The shrine is lavished with moonstones, guard stones.

» Nissanka Lata Mandapaya A very pretty pavilion which was used to chanting buddha's teaching. This floral edifice in stone has pillars which simulate with rare grace, a lotus on a stalk.

» The Satmahal Prasada A square pyramidal tower in seven tiers - a dagoba of novel design. Each side of each tier is ornamented by a figure of a deity in an arched niche.

» Hatadage / Atadage Sacred Tooth Relic temples in Polonnaruwa built by two kings Wijayabahu and Nissanka Malla. Hatadage means sixty relics or completed in 60 days. Atadage means eight relics or completed the construction in eight days. Handsome two storied buildings with standing Buddha images. The plain ashlar walls are very artistically relieved by a double border of faintly incise carvings.

» Gal Potha (Stone Book) A massive 27 ft. stone slab which lies by the side of the Hatadage is inscribed with the deeds of King Nissankamalla.

» Pabulu Vehera To the east is the softly rounded dagoba, with a different style.

» Rankot Vehera (12th Century A.D.) Built by Nissankamalla, this dagoba is the largest in Polormaruwaand measures 550 ft. in girth.

» Lankatileke The walls of the majestic Lankatileke even now stand 55 ft. high. In the 12th century, it was one of the most splendid of Buddhist Shrines in Asia. A headless Buddha statue of colossal size is found here.

» Kiri Vehera Just ahead of Lankatileke is the 'milk-white shrine' named for its exterior of gleaming white. It is the best preserved of Sri Lanka's un-restored dagobas.

» Gal Vihare The most impressive sculptures at Polonnaruwa are the colossal 04 Buddha images carved on the face of a granite boulder at the Gal Vihare. The recumbent Buddha measures 46 ft. and the standing figure is 23 ft. in height.

» Lotus Bath A pretty rook-cut pool shaped like a stylised lotus, constructed in diminishing concentric lamina, built by Nissankamalla.

» Tivanka Image House Largest among the brick - built shrines of Polonnaruwa, The Image House has walls covered with frescoes now almost rubbed off. It houses a towering Buddha in the thrice curved pose.

» Archaeological Museums Modern museum located by the side to the Parakrama Samudra present, original art efacts found in Polonnaruwa and also replicas and artistic impressions of the ancient monuments.