Colombo Trip Overview
A full day tour covering all historical places of Polonnaruwa, delving into the rich history of the former medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, which majestically portrays Sri Lanka’s grand past. Although nearly 1,000 years old, it is much younger than Anuradhapura – Sri Lanka’s first capital – and generally in better repair. The monuments are arranged in a reasonably compact garden setting and their development is easier to follow. This tour will give you an opportunity to dig into the history of this magnificent UNESCO world heritage site.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 to 12 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
A full day tour covering all historical places of Polonnaruwa, delving into the rich history of the former medieval capital of Sri Lanka. Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, which majestically portrays Sri Lanka’s grand past. Although nearly 1,000 years old, it is much younger than Anuradhapura – Sri Lanka’s first capital – and generally in better repair. The monuments are arranged in a reasonably compact garden setting and their development is easier to follow. This tour will give you an opportunity to dig into the history of this magnificent UNESCO world heritage site.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The vatadage is more or less unique architecture of ancient Sri Lanka, which exists in many parts of the country, but it is best expressed by this single monument in Polonnaruwa, as it is the least damaged and has undergone extensive restoration throughout the years. Since the Vatadage is located in the Dalada Maluwa or ‘Hall of Relic’, it is virtually surrounded by a gorgeous riot of artistry, with almost every surface carved in a melee of decoration. The reason for being one of the most visited monuments in Sri Lanka is due to its significant history, as it is believed that King Parakramabahu the Great (1164 – 1196 CE) built it as a shrine for the sacred tooth relic that belonged to Lord Buddha.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
The Gal Vihara has become one of the major attractions in Polonnaruwa, and in the whole of Sri Lanka, since it houses the best preserved caves where the sculptures of the Lord Buddha in the four stances reside. The Cave of Vijjadharas and the Excavated Cave houses intricately carved images of Lord Buddha in the Dhyana Mudra (meditative attitude). The Cave of Standing Image, housing a 7 metre tall stone sculpture of Buddha is the second largest statue in the cave temples. The largest sculpture being in the Cave of Reclining Image is 14 metres long with the typical intricacy of Sinhalese rock carving of the time.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Built by King Nissanka Malla and named after him, the monument once served as a recitation house for Buddhist chanting (pirith). The ‘Mandapaya’ is open on all four sides and acts as a shield for its visitors from the sun. An elevated stone platform lined with eight granite columns and enclosed by a stone wall. What sets it apart from like structures scattered across the country is its unique column carvings – the crown is carved into the shape of a blooming lotus bud while the rest of the column is carved to depict the lotus’s stem. An added distinctive feature – the towering columns are curved in 3 places and are said to perfectly embody ancient Sri Lankan architecture.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Rankoth Vehera, Ancient Bhikku Hospital, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
The Rankoth Vehera is believed to have been built during the reign of King Nissanka Malla of the Polonnaruwa era during the 12th Century AC. Although the king ruled for a short period, from 1187 to 1196, the king made significant contributions to the development of the kingdom, in terms of irrigation development and culture as well. One such remnant of how Buddhism influenced the culture of the Polonnaruwa Kingdom is the Rankoth Vehera. The vihara was built in the way of the Anuradhapura Maha Vihara, thus the reason as to why the Rankoth Vehera resembles that of the iconic Ruwanweliseya in Anuradhapura.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Thivanka Image House, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The origins of the image house have been traced back to the Polonnaruwa period of the 12th Century AC, during the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great. Upon completion of the image house, it is said that the monument housed a great many intricate statues of the Lord Buddha and many other Bodhisatva (monks who have attained Buddhahood). However, due to the Dravidian invaders of South India, the image house underwent a perilous time; being vandalised by the occupying invaders. Although experiencing such atrocities, the monument survived and was rediscovered during the late 1800s and underwent a period of restoration.
Duration: 30 minutes
