On A Visit To The Polonnaruwa Heritage City, The Royal Palace
Is A Never Miss Attraction On The Trip. This Royal Palace Of The Great King
Parakumba (1153-1186 ) Had Been Constructed As A Seven-Story Building. It Took
The Construction Around Seven Years And Seven Months To Be Completed. Out Of
The 7 Stories Having 1000 Rooms, Only 3 Stories With 55 Rooms Are Remaining.
The Palace Had Been Destroyed By An Invader From South Indian Named “Maga’,
The Shiva Devalaya 02 -Polonnaruwa
The Shiva Devale No. 2 Is Considered To Be The Oldest
Building In The City Of Polonnaruwa As It Dates Way Back To The South Indian
Chola Dynasty Period When The Indian Invaders Had Established This City. Unlike
Many Of The Buildings Of The Ancient City Of Polonnaruwa, It Had Been Created
Entirely Of Stone. Due To This Reason, The Structure Today Is In A Much Similar
Condition As It Was When It Was Built Centuries Ago. The Statue Of Lord Shiva’s
Mount, Nandi The Bull Is Something To Watch Out For.
The Audience Hall Polonnaruwa
The Audience Hall Is A Monument Having Beautiful Stone Carved
Elephants Alongside Each Of Its Walls. Parakramabahu I’s Audience Hall Is
Popular For The Array Of Elephants. All Of The Carved Elephants Look Different
From Each Another. The Steps To The Entrance Of The Audience Hall Are Pretty
Impressive, With Some Beautiful Lions At The Top Of Each Of The Side.
The Sacred Quadrangle
This Sacred Quadrangle Has A Number Of Significant Sacred
Monuments. It Is A Representation Of The Grandest Architecture Of The Ancient City
Of Polonnaruwa During That Period. The Extremely Eye-Catching Scene Of The
Entire Quadrangle Is Believed To Be The Circular Vatadage. Four Large Buddha Statues
Surround The Middle Of The Shrine.
The Swimming Pool- Polonnaruwa
The Swimming Pool Is Situated At The Corner Of The Palace
Grounds. There Are Some Crocodile-Mouth Spouts Which Direct The Fresh Water
Into The Pool. It Is One Of The Main Attractions Of The Ancient City Of Polonnaruwa.
It Is Ideal To Visit It In The Evening Owing To The Warm Weather.
The Term Kiri Vihara Means “Milk-White”. This Large Stupa Is
Lying North Of Lankathilaka Pilima Ge. It Had Been Created By A Queen Of The
Great King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) Named “Subadra”. The Original Lime Plaster
Is In The Perfect White Condition Even After Almost 700 Years Of It Being
Created. It Is Said To Be The Best-Preserved Unrestored Dagaba Of The
Polonnaruwa City. The First Traditional Name Of The Stupa Was “Rupavathi
Stupa”. It Is A Part Of The Alahana Privena And It Stands At 80 Feet In Height
Today.
The Pabulu Vehera- Polonnaruwa
This Is The Third Largest Dagaba Of The Ancient Polonnaruwa
City And It Is In Excellent Condition. The Origin Of This Uniquely Shaped
Pabalu Vehera Stupa Is Yet To Be Discovered. It Has Been Built By A Consort Of
The King Great Parakramabahu ( 1153-1186 Ad). This Stupa Is Currently Called By
The Name Of “Pabalu” Which Means Beads. This Is Due To The Reason That A Large
Number Of Glass Beads Had Been Found At The Time Of The Excavation Of The Area
Near To The Stupa. The Top, As Well As The Center Parts Of The Stupa, Have Been
Destroyed By The Invaders And Treasure Hunters Just Recently.
The Lankatilaka Vihara Is Said To Be One Of The Emblematic
Structures Of An Ancient Kingdom Of The City Of Polonnaruwa. Two Great Walls
Created A Narrow Aisle That Led The Way To A Very Impressive, Headless Buddha Statue
Is Still Standing. The Height Of The Statue Is Almost Over 14m High. It Was Built
By The Great King Parakramabahu.
This Is A Unesco World Heritage Site. It Is The Perfect
Specimen Of Lord Buddha Statue Created With Solid Stone. It Was Built During
The Reign Of The Great King Parakramabahu (1153-1186 A.C). The Reclining Buddha
Sculpture Is 14 M Long, Which Represents Buddha Entering The Nirvana Stage. The
Sculptor Artist Of The Gal Vihara Possessed A Great Deal Of Skill And Expertise
In The Field Of Stone Sculpture In The Land Of Sri Lanka.
The Rankot Vihara
The Rankot Vihara Stupa Had Been Created By Nissanka Malla Of
The Ancient City Of Polonnaruwa. He Had Ruled The Country For Almost A Decade
From 1187 To 1196. The Rankoth Vehera Have Been Created Keeping In Mind The Old
Tradition Of The Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya. It Has An Impressive Height Of 54
Meters. The Stone Inscription Near To The Stupa Describes It To Be Known As
“Ruwanweli”.
Polonnaruwa Tank
The Tank Is Believed To Be An Ancient Reservoir Of Water For
The City. The Country Of Sri Lanka Is Full Of A Variety Of Tanks. The Ancient
City Of Polonnaruwa Is Situated On The Banks Of The Topa Tank. The Tank Is A
Beautiful Location For Sightseeing. The Tank Is Raised Up From The Town So One
Only See It If One Walks Towards It.
Kaudulla National Park Was Designated As A National Park On April
1, 2002. It Is Located In The Polonnaruwa District Of Nc
Province Sri Lanka. The Park Is Spread Over 6,900 Hectares. You Can
Reach The Park By Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomalee Highway And It Is
Around 190km Away From Colombo. The Minneriya National Park, Another Park
Where You Will Find The Elephants In Large Numbers Are Also Located Close To
This Park. However, Kaudulla Is Less Crowded Compared To Minneriya And
Therefore Some Tourists Prefer To Visit Kaudulla.
Kaudulla Is Another Great Place To See Elephants In Their
Natural Habits. Around September Is
The Best Time To Go On Safari In The Kaudulla National Park. During This Period
Elephants Move To The Kaudulla Tank In Search Of Water And Food. The Safari Jeeps
Are Arranged Both Morning And Evening. The Morning Safari Is Started
Around 6:00 Am And Evening Safari
Is Started Around 3:00 Pm.
In Addition To The Elephants, Sri Lankan Sambar Deer, Sri Lankan
Axis Deer, Chevrotain, Wild Boar, Sri Lankan Leopard, And Sloth Bear Are Other
Mammals Found In The Park.
It Is Better To Stay Around Minneriya & Habarana City Area If You
Wish To Go On The Morning Safari, And You Can Ask Safari Jeeps To Pick Up You
From Your Accommodation
Moragahakanda Reservoir
The Moragahakanda Reservoir Is The Largest Reservoir Of The Mahaweli
Project. The Moragahakanda Dam Is A High Gravity Dam With A Height Of 65
Meters. The Dam Has Created The Moragahakanda Reservoir, Which Has An Active
Storage Capacity Of 521,000,000 Cubic Meters And Is Four Times Bigger Than The
Gigantic Parakrama Samudraya In Polonnaruwa.
The Main Viewpoint Of And The Dam Can Be Easily Accessed Via Naula
– Elahara – Pallegama – Hettipola (B312) Road Which Is Starting From Naula
On Kandy – Jaffna (A009) Road. The Reservoir Mainly Belongs To The Polonnaruwa
District Of Nc Province.
A Large Number Of Local Tourists Are Attracted To This Place To
See This Giant Dam And Eye-Catching Surrounding. The Main Viewpoint Of The
Reservoir Provides A Panoramic View Of The Reservoir. The Area Is Also
Planned To Develop As Several Tourist Destinations As A Part Of This Project.
This
Beautifully Carved Ancient Statue Is Located Near The Pothgul
Vehera In The Polonnaruwa District
Of Nc Province Sri Lanka,
The Identity Of This Statue Is Not Yet
Confirmed And Some Believed It To Be The Statue Of King Parakramabahu The
Great (1123–1186). And Others Believed That It Is The Statue
Of Great Saint Called Pulasthi Or Kapila. The Statue Is About 3.5m
Tall And Carved Into A Large Rock Boulder.
Pothgul Vehera Is
Located In The Polonnaruwa
District Of Nc Province Sri Lanka. The Sinhalese
Name “Pothgull” Has The Meaning Of “Place To Store Books”. As Such, With The
Other Historical Evidence, This Ancient Place Has Been Identified As
The Oldest Buddhist Library Complex In The Country. It Was Built By The
King Parakramabahu The Great (1153-1186).
The Somawathiya
Stupa Is Said To Be Enshrined The Right Tooth Relic Of Lord Buddha. It Is
Located In Somawathiya Rajamaha Vihara Premises In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province The Area In Which The Temple Located Belongs
To The Somawathiya National Park As Well. The Stupa Was Built During The Reign
Of The King
Kawanthissa(205–161 BC ) And It Was Named After
His Sister Called Princes Somawathi.
Minneriya Tank
The Minneriya Tank Was Built By The King Mahasen (276-304), Who
Ruled The Country From Anuradhapura. The Tank Is Located In The Polonnaruwa Districtof Nc
Province , Sri Lanka.
The Tank Has Been Built By Constructing A Dam Across Minneriya
River. The Dam Is About 2 Km In Length With The Maximum Height Of 21.34m.
The Tank Covered An Area Of 4,670 Acres And It Receives Mahaweli Water Through
Elahera Giant Canal.
Because Of This Giant Construction And Its Usefulness To The
Irrigation And Agriculture, The Countrymen Regarded The King As A God And He
Was Named As Minneri Deviyo (God Of
Minneriya). A Devale Dedicated To The Minneri Deviyo Still Survives On
The Dam Of Minneriya Tank.
Velaikkara Inscription
Velaikkara Inscription Is An Ancient Inscription Carved On A Stone
Located In The Dalada Maluwa Premises Of Main Archaeological Site In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province In Sri Lanka.
Council Chamber Of King Nissankamalla
This Building Has Been Identified As The Council Chamber Of King
Nissankamalla (1187-1196 .A.D) , An Inscription On The Lion Figure Made Of
The Stone Itself Identifies As The Throne Of The King. And The
Inscriptions On The Pillars Indicate The Seating Arrangement Of The Respective
Ministers And State Officials.
This Council Chamber Is Located In The Dipauyana Premises
In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province ,
Sri Lanka. You Can Access It Through The Archaeological Museum Or By The
Footpath (Royal Palace Pathway) Which Is Starting In Front Of The Entrance
To The Main Archaeological Site.
Monastic Hospital Polonnaruwa
This Monastic Hospital Is Located In The Alahana Piriwena Premises
Of The Main Archaeological Site In Polonnaruwa
District Of Nc Province , Sri Lanka.
The Archaeological Excavations Have Confirmed This Building As A
Monastic Hospital Constructed In The 12th Century. A Medicine Trough (Behet Oruva)Made
Of Stone Is Still Can Be Seen In One Room. This Medicine Trough Had Been
Used For Treating Patients By Immersing In Herbal Oil. Several Surgical And
Medical Instruments Also Have Been Discovered During The Excavations At This
Site. There Are Two Main Sections In This Building Namely Living And Treatment Sections. Both
Sections Have Open Courts At The Center.
Gal Potha (Stone Book)
Gal Potha
(Stone Book) Is A Giant Stone Inscription Located In The Dalada Maluwa Premises
Of Main Archaeological Site In Polonnaruwa
District , Sri Lanka. It Is A Work Of King Nissankamalla (1187-1196) And It Is The Largest Stone
Inscription Discovered So Far. The Inscription Itself Tells That
This Large Stone Was Transported From Minintale, Some Hundred Kilometers Away
From Polonnaruwa. It Describes The Genealogy, Heroic And Altruistic Deed
Of King Nissankamalla. The Letters Of The Inscription Were Embossed With
Molten Iron. The Figure Of The Woman On The Side Face Of The Stone On Whom
Two Elephants Are Sprinkling Water Has Been Identified As Goddess
Gajalakshmi (Goddess Of Prosperity).
Thivanka Image House
Tivanka Image House Is Identified As The Image House Of Jetavanaramaya
Monastery Built By The King Parakramabahu The Great (1153 – 1186). It Is
Located In The Main Archaeological Site Of Polonnaruwa District In Nc Province ,
Sri Lanka. The Name Tivanka (Means
Three Bends) Is Given Due To Its Giant Buddha Image Is Bent At Three Places,
Namely Shoulder, Hip, And Knee. The Image House Is Famous Due To The Paintings
On Its Interior Walls. The Paintings Belong To The 12th Century And They Depict
Certain Incidents From Jataka Stories And The Life Of Buddha.
Like Thuparamaya And Lankathilaka, This Image House Also
Belongs To The Vaulted (Gedige) Type And Part Of The Vaulted Roof Is Still
Lying To The South Of The Shrine. The Vimanas With Figures Of Details And The
Dwarf Figure In Various Postures On The Exterior Walls Are Admirable Work Of
Creative Art.
This Image House Is Located Somewhat Away From The Other Places
And Therefore Many Travelers Who Visit The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Site
Misses This. You Can Access This Place By Thivanka Pilimage Road At The Left
Side Of The Road To The Exit Gate Of The Site. You Can Also Visit The Demala
Maha Seya And The Lotus Pond By This Road And They Are Located Before
The Tivanka Image House.
Baddhasima Prasadaya
Baddhasima Prasadaya Is The Pohoyageya Or Uposathagharaya (Chapter House) Of The Monks Of Alahana
Piriwena Where They Rehearsed The Codes Of Discipline (Especially The Pati Mokka). It Is Located In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province
Sri Lanka.
The Remaining Pillars And Brick Walls Suggest That There Had
Been A Multi-Storied Building And According To The Mahavamsa, There Had Been A
Twelve Storied Building. As Such, This May Be The Largest Of The Uposathaghara In
The Island. The Central Platform Of The Building Was To Locate The Relic
Casket While Four Monks Seated On The Stone Pedestal Facing The Cardinal
Directions Read The Code Of Discipline.
Kumara Pokuna - Polonnaruwa
This Pond Or Royal Bath Is Presently Known As “Kumara
Pokuna” Is Believed To Be The Pond Named “Sila Pokkharani” Mentioned Mahavamsa The Pond Is Located Next To
The Council Chamber O King Parakramabahu In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province, Sri Lanka.
According To Mahavamsa, The Pond Was Built By King Parakramabahu The
Great(1153 – 1186 A.D.).
The Pond Is Located Such A Way That It Can Get Water From The
Parakrama Samudraya Tank And It Has Provided With Outlets To Drain Off The Used
Water. The Water Was Supplied To The Pond By The Two Dragon Mouths Located Both
Sides The Staircase. It Is Quadrangle Shape And There Is Lotus
Flower In The Middle. The Pavilion Near The Pond May Be Served As A
Changing Room
Hatadage -Polonnaruwa
Hatadage Is An
Ancient Shrine In The Polonnaruwa
District Of
Nc Province Sri Lanka. It Was Built By The King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.). This Had Been Used To
Place The Sacred Tooth Relic Of Lord Buddha. According To Historical Sources,
The Shrine Has Built In Sixty Hours. The English Translation Of The Sinhalese
Word “Hata” Is Sixty, Represent The Duration Of The Construction Period And The
Word “Dage” Has The Meaning Of “Relic Shrine”. The Remaining Features Of The
Building For Today, Evidence That The Shrine Was Originally A
Two-Story Building. The Shrine Is 120 Ft In Length And 60 Ft In Width.
Sathmahal Prasadaya -Polonnaruwa
Sathmahal
Prasadaya Is A Unique Type Of 7 Storied Ancient Building In Dalada Maluwa Premises
In Polonnaruwa
District Of Nc Province Sri Lanka. The
Sinhala Name “Sathmahal” Has The Meaning Of 7 Storied. The Building Is
Completely Built With Bricks And It Takes The Shape Of A Pyramid. The Base
Of The Building Is The Shape Of A Square With Side Length Of 35 Ft. There Are
Four Doors With Arches On Each Side. Since These Type Of Buildings Have Been
Found In Northern Thailand, This Is Also Considered As A Monument Which
Confirms The Foreign Affairs In Ancient Sri Lanka.
Thuparama Image House
This Image House Is Located In The Dalada Maluwa Premises In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc
Province Sri Lanka.
Although It Is Known As Thuparama Image House, The Ancient Name
Or The Builder Is Not Known. The Image House Is Categorized As Gedige Type As
Its Walls And The Roof Is Completely Built With Bricks. This Is The Only
Monument Among Those In Polonnaruwa Where The Roof Is Well Preserved. A Large
Seat Thought To Be The Base Of A Giant Seated Buddha Statue Can Be Seen Inside
The Image House. The Ornamentation Of The Exterior Walls Shows The
Influence Of The South Indian Architecture, Vimana-Panjara-Kudu Design.
Latus Pond
Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) Is An Ancient Pond With A Unique
Design Made By Ancient Sri Lankan Architects. It Is Located In The Ancient City
Of Polonnaruwa In N.C Province Sri Lanka. The Pond Got Its Name Because Of
Its Design Which Looks Like A Bloomed Lotus Flower. This Pond Is Somewhat Small
Compared To The Other Ponds Found In The Ancient City Of Polonnaruwa And It Is
Built With Stones. The Structural Design Of The Nelum Pokuns
Thestre Also Has Been Inspired By This Lotus Pond.
This Pond Is Unnoticed By Many Of The Visitors Since It Is
Located Somewhat Away From The Other Famous Ruins. The Pond Is Located On The
Left Side Of The Road To The Thiwanka Pilimage, After The Demala Maha Seya.
Siva Devalaya 01
This Hindu
Shrine Is Located In The Archaeological Site Of Polonnaruwa District , In Nc Province , Sri Lanka. The Ancient Name Or The Builder Of
This Shrine Is Not Known. However, According To The Style Of Architecture, This
May Belong To The 13th Century A.D.
Menik Vehera Polonnaruwa
Menik Vehera Is An Ancient Monastery Located In Polonnaruwa District Of Nc Province , Sri Lanka. The History Of This Place Is Not
Known. However, According To The Architectural Features, It Is Assumed To
Belong To The 8-9 Centuries A.D. This Monastery Consists Of A Stupa,
Image Houses, A Bodhi – Tree Shrine, Refectory, Monk’s Dispensary And
Cells. The Stupa Here Is Of A Rare Type, Which Is Built On A High Terrace
Surrounded By A High Wall. There Is A Carved Stone Door-Frame At The Entrance
To The Stupa.
This Monastery Is Unnoticed By Many Of The Visitors Who Visit The
Polonnaruwa Archaeological Site. It Is Located Closer To The Northern Gate. You
Can Identify The Northern Gate (See The Image Below) By The Ruins Of
Small Chambers Considered To Be The Guard Rooms Located Either Side Of The
Road.
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya
According To The Inscriptions Found, This Pillared Structure Has
Identified As The Nissanka Latha Mandapaya. It Is Located In The Place Known As
Dalada Maluwa In Polonnaruwa
District Of
Nc Province , Sri Lanka. This Building
Was Constructed By The King Nissankamalla (1187-1196 A.D.). According To
An Inscription, This Is The Place Where The King Nissankamalla Listened To
Pirith Chanting (A Recitation Or Chanting Of The Word Of The Lord Buddha).
The Building Is Surrounded By A Stone Railing And The Entrance
Is Also Protected By A Stone Doorway. The Stone Pillars In This Building Are
A Unique Design. These Pillars Are Not Straight And They Are Carved In
Three Places. The Top Of The Pillars Takes The Shape Of A Lotus Bud. And The
Rest Of The Pillars Have Carved As The Stem Of The Flower. There Is A Small
Stone Stupa (Truncated Top, Perhaps To Receive The Relic Casket During Pirith
Chanting) On The Center Of The Platform In The Middle Of The Building. It
Is Believed That The Roof Of The Building Was Done With Wood.
Hedadageya Polonnaruwa
Atadage Was Constructed By King Vijayabahu I To Place The Sacred
Tooth Relic In The 11th Century. It
Is Located In Polonnaruwa
District Of Nc
Province , Sri Lanka. The Name “Atadage” Has
The Meaning Of “House Of Eight Relics”. What Remains Here Today Are The
Foundation And 54 Stone Pillars. The Tooth Relic Has Been Kept On The Upper
Floor Made Out Of Wood On Top Of These Stone Pillars.
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National Park
Is Famous For Watching Elephants And Observing Their Behaviors. The Area Is
Under Higurakgoda Division In Polannaruwa District. Minneriya Park Was Declared
As A National Park In 12th August 1997.
You Can Reach Minneriaya
National Park Via Habarana-Polonnaruwa Road. The Main Entrance Is Located In A
Village Call Ambagaswewa, Just 9 Km Away From Habarana. This Park Covers An
Area Of 8890 Hectares Of Land Extent. Other Than Elephants, This Park Is Home
For Many Water Birds, Dears, Reptiles And Monkeys.
This Park Got Its
Name Minneriya, Because Of The Famous Minneriya Tank, Which Was Located By The
Park. This Tank Was Built By King Mahasen During 3rd Century AD And Still
Provides Irrigation Lifeline For Farmer Community In The Area. Same Time This
Reservoir Function As A Wetland And Help The Regional Biodiversity.
There Are Many Jeeps
Services Available For Minneriya Wild Safari Tours And You Can Have An
Enjoyable Time In A Reasonable Cost. Most Of The Hotels In The Area Coordinates
These Tours And Please Check With Your Hotel Reception.
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