Ancient City of Polonnaruwa 

Polonnaruwa is located in the province of North-central Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa altitude is 53m. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa, 122 hectares in extent. Pulastipura alias Polonnaruwa is an ancient city is the second kingdom of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa stands as one of the greatest historical and archaeological sites in Sri Lanka and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Visit historical Polonnaruwa and a glimpse of the glorious history of Sri Lanka. Climate is tropical climate prevailing throughout the year and the average temperature remains between 25^o C and 32^o C. April was the hottest with an average temperature of 29^o C, which can get up to 34^o C. January is the coldest time of the average temperature of 25^o C and drops down to a minimum of 21°C.

Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. The second most ancient of Sri Lanka’s kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first declared the capital city by King Vijayabahu I (1055 AD–1110 AD), who defeated Chola invaders in 1070 to reunite the country once more under a local leader.

Royal Palace

The royal palace of King Parakramabahu I (1153AD-1186 AD), which is the greatest king of Polonnaruwa period is a magnificent construction lying in the royal palace complex. Measuring 31m x 13m, the palace known as Vijayanta Prasada’ve had seven stories, four upper floors are wood. Only 3 meters large wall thickness up to 3 floors of the palace can be seen today. The brick walls had large holes that may have held large wooden beams above the floor structure.

According to the Mahavamsa, chronicle large, this magnificent palace has 1000 rooms. Around the castle, the ruins of a number of structures including hall and Kumara Pokuna can be seen. It is said that the palace is burned by the invaders after they conquered southern India Polonnaruwa.

Audience Hall

The audience hall is a fine attraction within the royal palace premises of King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186AD). Entrance to the hall is via a stone staircase on which the two lion sculptures remain seated. Its decor elephant is also eye-catching. A number of stone pillars standing in the hall encircling it.

Vatadage

Located in the southeast of Quadrangle or Dalada Maluwa (enclosure walled rectangle built on a raised porch which houses a number of ancient structures and monuments such as Vatadage, Atadage, Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, etc.), Vatadage is a circular structure built over a period of Polonnaruwa to house the tooth relic of Buddha. Decorated with elaborate stone carvings, this magnificent structure situated on stilts and has two terraces: the outermost and innermost. Outer terrace which is inserted through one entrance facing north. The entrance is made of stone steps carved elegant and enriched with the moonstone and two guardstones but only one remains today guardstone while the inner patio surrounded by a brick wall that goes through four entrances in the wind. the entrance is also made of beautifully carved stone staircase and flanked by guardstones and led by Moonstones, north one that stands unique. Four 5-foot tall image of Buddha sitting describe Dhyana Mudra carved out of solid rock lie facing each of the entrances. In the middle is a small dagoba where relics of the Buddha may have been immortalized. Three concentric rows of stone columns positioned on the terrace; perhaps they support the wooden roof.

Moonstone at Vatadage

Moonstones or Sandakada Pahana Polonnaruwa period different from the majority of the Anuradhapura period. The moonstone lying at the northern entrance Polonnaruwa Vatadage is one of the greatest moonstones from the period of Polonnaruwa. One of the outstanding features of this moonstones is that elephants, lions and horses carved into separate bands, while figures of elephants, lions, horses and bulls are carved in a single band on the people of Anuradhapura period. Figures bull can not be seen on Moonstones Polonnaruwa era and it is believed that this is due to the influence of Hinduism; Polonnaruwa was conquered by the south Indian invaders.

Gal Pota (Stone Book)

Gal Pota or stone book is 26-foot long 4-foot wide slab of rock lying close to Hetadage in Quadrangle. This ancient stone book contains inscriptions that confirm it is the publication of the King Nissanka Malla (1187 AD-1196 AD) whose virtues as king is written in the book of this colossal stone. The inscription itself says that the 25-ton stone book is taken from Mihintale which is 100 km away.  This is the longest stone inscription of that kind in Sri Lanka.

Hetadage

Another magnificent construction was established during the period of Polonnaruwa, Hetadage is a huge building built by King Nissanka Malla (1187 AD-1196 AD) to house the tooth relic of Buddha. It resembles Atadage but larger in size. Once had the top floor of wood, stone steps that can still be seen and also the three standing Buddha images can be seen lying on the ground floor. It is said that this building was established in the 60 days since Hetadage name means house 60 hours. At the entrance to the rock-month Hetadage is different from the typical Moonstones Polonnaruwa period because it contains the figure of a lion.

Nissanka Lata Mandapa

Built by King Nissanka Malla (1187 AD-1196 AD) and was named after him, Nissanka Lata Mandapa is a unique structure that is located close to the west entrance of Dalada Maligawa. This stone is like a platform Mandapa enclosed by a stone wall lattice and in the middle is a small stupa shaped bubble surrounded by lotus-stalk-like stone columns peak shaped like a lotus bud. Log in to Mandapa is through the stone door. An inscription in Mandapa asserts that King Nissanka Malla used to listen Pirith (chanting of Buddhist scriptures).

Satmahal Prasada (Demala Maha Seya)

Located in the northeastern corner of the Quadrangle, Satmahal Prasada alias Maha Seya Demala  is building a 32-square-foot tall, pyramid-type with seven floors reduced. It is believed that the ancient buildings that resemble the eighth-century Square Chedi in Lamphun, Thailand is a work of King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186AD), ​​during whose reign Polonnaruwa see the peak of prosperity.

Lankatilaka

Lankatilaka is gedige-type hollow structure without a roof made of bricks. Fantastic structure of the 12th century was built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186AD) and later restored by King Vijayabahu IV (1270 AD-1272 AD). This structure has a 55-foot high wall with intricate carvings and the entrance is flanked by two beautiful carved guardstones. Inside the structure is a headless colossal Buddha image with a height of 41 feet.

Kiri Vihara

Built by Subhadra, the queen of King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186AD), ​​Kiri Vihara is a large high-80ft dagoba was originally known as Rupavati Dagoba. Kiri Vihara means dagobas milk white and remained in good condition without restoration although built in the 12th century.

Gal Vihara

Polonnaruwa, Gal Vihara, originally known as Uttararama, an ancient rock temple in Polonnaruwa with a group of magnificent Buddha image, all carved into a single long granite boulder. The group consists of four colossal Buddha images; two sitting, standing and lying down one another. Founded by King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186 AD) in the 12th century, colossal Buddha images depict the best of Sinhala expertise in stone carving.

7-meter-high standing Buddha image is the best of the four images of Buddha. This picture raises facial expression sad and arms folded across his chest, and therefore some archaeologists say that it is of Ananda Thera, Buddha’s disciples, who mourned parinirvana (passing-direction) of the Buddha while several other archaeologists show that is the Buddha who show affection highest toward suffering.

Lying on a bare rock flattened side standing image, reclining Buddha image is 14.12 meters long images carved into solid rock and the largest in Gal Vihara. The image depicts a parinirvana (passing-away) of Buddha lying on the right side with right arm supporting the head on a roll while the left arm is located along the body.

image sits 4.6 meters tall is the larger of the two images alone sit. Image cause Dhyana Mudra (meditation posture) and Buddha seated on a lotus flower. Stone background is nicely decorated with carvings. Others sitting Buddha image is smaller than the others and standing 15 feet high lay in a cave.

Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond)

Located about 500 meters north of Demala Maha Seya, Nelum Pokuna or Lotus Pond is a lotus-shaped pool with five concentric rings down eight petals each built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186 AD) to be used by the monks.

Pulasti Statue

It is a 11-foot 2 inch tall statue carved on a large rock over a period of Polonnaruwa. Sculpture of the 12th century is located close to the eastern edge of the Parakrama Samudra and 100 meters north of the ancient temples depict Potgul magnificent with a serious expression, holding a book-like object in his hand. There is no evidence of the fact that the building of this statue and appearing in it. It is said that this statue of King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186 AD), the greatest king of Polonnaruwa period while archaeologists suggest it is Pulasti, a sage who was in Sri Lanka.

Tivanka Image House

Built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186 AD), Tivanka Image House is an interesting picture house lay 400 meters north of the famous Lotus Pond. The word refers to the three curves Tivanka and home image is referred to as the only image of the Buddha in the house image has three curves in the knees, hips and shoulders. This Buddha image stands eight meters high and headless destroyed.

With 7-12 feet thick walls, the picture house 133ft long and 67.6ft wide. Tivanka Image House is an ancient classical art and sculpture fun of Polonnaruwa era. Both sides of the walls are beautifully decorated; the outside walls are beautified with lots of decorative sculpture and painting a happy figure looks of ganas dwarf, etc., and the interior walls are filled with unique murals depicting the life of Buddha before. This mural shows the trend of the style of the 12th and 13thcenturies. However, the mural at the entrance less detail and quality illustrational while the paintings on the inner walls seem to have been painted with care.

Potgul Vihara

Potgul Vihara is a thick-walled structure in the form of gedige built by King Parakramabahu I (1153 AD-1186 AD), near the statue Pulasti at the archaeological site of Polonnaruwa. This is basically a Buddhist library complex is considered the oldest library complex in Sri Lanka. This brick structure surrounded by four small dagobas in the four corners has four terraces. It is believed that King used to listen to the Buddhist Jataka stories related to the teacher in this monastery.