Colombo Trip Overview
Visit the Ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa – a declared UNESCO world heritage site. Explore the well-preserved 12th-century ruins, impressive stone sculptures and amazing ancient constructions. Start off with an unforgettable and wonderful day tour to Polonnaruwa and on the next day get ready to witness wildlife at Minneriya National Park. Minneriya Jeep Safari would be a valuable opportunity to observe unique and amazing wild animals in their natural habitats. Experience “The Gathering,” a name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Minneriya & Kaudulla Reservoir. View the native elephants at their natural environment at the banks of the minneriya or Kaudulla tank. You can see they they graze on the grasses growing on the tank bed, playing & bathing.
Additional Info
Duration: 2 days
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Visit the Ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa – a declared UNESCO world heritage site. Explore the well-preserved 12th-century ruins, impressive stone sculptures and amazing ancient constructions. Start off with an unforgettable and wonderful day tour to Polonnaruwa and on the next day get ready to witness wildlife at Minneriya National Park. Minneriya Jeep Safari would be a valuable opportunity to observe unique and amazing wild animals in their natural habitats. Experience “The Gathering,” a name given to the elephants that assemble on the banks of the Minneriya & Kaudulla Reservoir. View the native elephants at their natural environment at the banks of the minneriya or Kaudulla tank. You can see they they graze on the grasses growing on the tank bed, playing & bathing.
Itinerary
Day 1: Negombo – Polonnaruwa
Stop At: Rankoth Vehera, Ancient Bhikku Hospital, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Rankoth Vehera is the largest and most important stupa in the whole of Polonnaruwa. At least fifty-five meters in height and standing on a large platform, and it is today preserved wonderfully in its original brick form. In form it is supposed to look somewhat similar to the ancient Anuradhapura stupa of Ruwanweliseya and in fact it was even referred to as such, although the names Ratnavalli Stupa and Rankoth are even more applicable. The latter name means “Golden Pinnacle,” after the summit of the building itself. Rankoth Vehera was constructed under the sponsorship of the foreign monarch Nissankamalla.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Gal Vihara (Sinhala: stone temple), Buddhist Temple at (UNESCO World Heritage Site) at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka is the most perfect specimen of Buddha statue hewn out of solid stone. “Gal Vihara”, also spelt “Gal Viharaya”, means “Rock Monastery”. It’s the name of Sri Lanka’s most celebrated rock-cut Buddha statues. The Gal Vihara group consists of four fascinating statues, three colossal rock-cut images and a smaller one in a partly artificial cave. The Gal Vihara sculptures, each different in design, are undoubtedly the most perfect specimen of Buddha statues hewn out of solid granite in Sri Lanka. All four images are hallowed out of the abrupt eastern slope of a single massive boulder, which is about 27 meters in length and 10 meters in height. They are still in a good state of preservation. In order to protect them from acid rain, the resplendent images are sheltered under a new roof.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The Polonnaruwa Vatadge is an ancient structure located in a quadrangular area, Dalada Maluva in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. The Vatadage occupies most of the southwestern area of Dalada Maluva and is the prominent structure among other oldest and most sacred monuments of the city. The Vatadge has a similar design with that of the structures belonging to the Anuradhapura period, especially Thuparamaya and Lankaramaya. The Polonnaruwa Vatadage has two stone platforms decorated with elaborate stone carvings. The lower one is entered through a single entrance facing the north while the second one is accessed through four doorways facing the four cardinal points. This platform houses the stupa which is surrounded by the brick wall. The Buddha statues are constructed around the wall facing the four cardinal points.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Alahana Pirivena – 73, X263+QH9, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
An archeologist’s haven, Alahana Pirivena is a ruin that depicts the past with its plethora of units, with minute boundary walls that have equally minute entrances. The ruins depict small cells and it is evident that common living facilities were shared by the monks. A monumental brick building referred to as “Baddha Seema Pasada” was supposed to be a chapter house for resident monks in the bygone era. A significant feature of the Alahana Pirivena, is its diminutive rock columns which stand outside the edifice and demarcates the boundaries of the chapter house.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Hatadage, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Hatadage is an old relic sanctuary in the city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. It was worked by King Nissanka Malla, and had been utilized to keep the Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The Hatadage had been fabricated utilizing stone, block and wood, albeit just parts of the block and stone dividers presently remain. It seems to have been a two-story structure, yet the upper story has now been decimated. Three Buddha statues cut out of stone shake are situated inside an assembly of the holy place.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gal-Potha Stone Book, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Gal Potha (Stone Book) is one of the famous works of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196) which describes himself, his rule and the eligibility for being a king of Sri Lanka. This massive slab which is 26’10” feet (8.2 meters) long and 4’7” feet (1.4 meters) in breath has been brought form Mahiyangana area by the worriers of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196). The text is written in 3 columns and contain over 4300 characters in 72 lines.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight stay in Polonnaruwa
Day 2: Polonnaruwa – Minneriya – Negombo
Stop At: Minneriya National Park, Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Highway, 50150 Sri Lanka
Minneriya Jeep Safari is a one of the most popular activity among travelers who visit Sri Lanka. Minneriya National Park is a wildlife sanctuary located in the North Central province of Sri Lanka. Nature lovers on Minneriya Jeep Safari often spot large number of Sri Lankan Elephants gathering around to grass fields on the edges of the reservoir during the dry season. In addition there are two endemic monkeys of Sri Lanka, Large herbivorous mammals such as Sri Lankan sambar deer and Sri Lankan axis deer, Rare and endangered species such as Sri Lankan leopard and Sri Lankan sloth bear, the gray slender loris, large water birds such as lesser adjutant, painted stork, and spot-billed pelican, little cormorants, Great white pelican, ruddy turnstone, and grey heron. The endemic birds such as Sri Lanka jungle fowl, Sri Lanka hanging parrot, brown-capped babbler, Sri Lanka grey hornbill, black-crested bulbul and crimson-fronted barbet, eight species of endemic reptiles, saltwater crocodile, Indian python, Asian water monitor, and Bengal monitors and more.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
