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Polonnaruwa
Overview
Kings ruled the central plains of Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa 800 years ago, when it was a thriving commercial and religious center.Ā The glories of that age can be found in the archaeological treasures that still give a pretty good idea of how the city looked in its heyday. You'll find the archaeological park a delight to explore, with hundreds of ancient structures ā tombs and temples, statues and stupas ā in a compact core. The Quadrangle alone is worth the trip.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Polonnaruwa
Part of Parakramabahu Iās northern monastery, Gal Vihara is a group of beautiful Buddha images that probably marks the high point of Sinhalese rockā¦
Polonnaruwa
One of the most evocative structures in Polonnaruwa, the Lankatilaka temple was built by Parakramabahu I and later restored by Vijayabahu IV. This massiveā¦
Polonnaruwa
A short stroll north of the Royal Palace ruins, the area known as the Quadrangle is literally that ā a compact group of ruins in a raised-up area boundedā¦
Polonnaruwa
The 54m Rankot Vihara dagoba, the largest in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest on the island, has been ascribed to the reign of King Nissanka Malla. Likeā¦
Polonnaruwa
For three centuries Polonnaruwa was a royal capital of both the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms. Today's archaeological park is a delight to explore, withā¦
Polonnaruwa
At the southern end of the Quadrangle, the Thuparama Gedige is the smallest gedige (hollow Buddhist temple with thick walls) in Polonnaruwa, but is alsoā¦
Polonnaruwa
In the southeast of the Quadrangle, the Vatadage (circular relic house) is typical of its kind. Its outermost terrace is 18m in diameter, and the secondā¦
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa's northern road ends at Tivanka Image House. Tivanka means āthrice bentā, and refers to the fact that the Buddha image within is in a threeā¦
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