Polonnaruwa is the second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, after Anuradhapura. It was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka. The Gal Vihara is a rock temple of the Buddhist religion of Sri Lanka, built by the 12th century king Parakramabahu I. It consists of four figures of the Buddha carved from a single granite face. The Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama) is a vast reservoir that still irrigates the surrounding paddy fields today.
Polonnaruwa
June 12, 2026
Polonnaruwa
Heavenly Collections
Location
Nearby Attractions
- Rankoth Vehera Stupa Rankoth Vehera is the largest stupa in the Polonnaruwa ancient
- Pimburattewa Wetlands The Pimburattewa wetland area north of Polonnaruwa is a largely
- Wasgamuwa Edge Zones Wasgamuwa National Park's edge zones — the forested buffer areas
- Polonnaruwa Ancient City Ruins Polonnaruwa Ancient City is Sri Lanka's medieval capital and one
- Kaudulla National Park Kaudulla National Park is Minneriya's sister park — an adjacent
- Lankatilaka Image House Lankatilaka is one of the most dramatically surviving image houses