Colombo Trip Overview
If you want to know about the essence of Sri Lankan Heritage and culture Polonnaruwa is the best place. Polonnaruwa was a thriving commercial and religious center located in the central plains of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa was the second capital in Sri Lanka and was destroyed after the Chola invasion. It has been named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is filled with archaeological treasures such as with hundreds of ancient structures , tombs and temples, statues and stupas in a compact core. The Quadrangle alone is worth the trip.
• Travel comfortably with a driver-guide
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off
• Admire the well-maintained ruins
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 minutes
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
If you want to know about the essence of Sri Lankan Heritage and culture Polonnaruwa is the best place. Polonnaruwa was a thriving commercial and religious center located in the central plains of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa was the second capital in Sri Lanka and was destroyed after the Chola invasion. It has been named as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is filled with archaeological treasures such as with hundreds of ancient structures , tombs and temples, statues and stupas in a compact core. The Quadrangle alone is worth the trip.
• Travel comfortably with a driver-guide
• Enjoy personalized attention on a private tour
• Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off
• Admire the well-maintained ruins
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage (House of relic) is one of the best preserved ancient structures of the kingdom of Polonnaruwa and is virtually surrounded by a gorgeous riot of artistry, with almost every surface carved in a melee of decoration. ocated within the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, it is the best preserved example of a vatadage in the country, and has been described as the “ultimate development” of this type of architecture. Four Buddha statues are seated around it, each facing one of the entrances.The entire structure is decorated with stone carvings. Some of the carvings at the Polonnaruwa Vatadage, such are considered to be the best examples of such architectural features.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Samudra Parakrama, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
This vast water reservoir was built by King Parakramabahu the great (1153-1186) and today what you see as the Parakrama Samudraya is only a portion of his original creation. King Parakramabahu took the initiative to collect every drop of monsoon rain water by creating over 53 tanks in order to enrich and amplify the rice production and agricultural industry all together, providing safe water and sanitation services to the community. Hence the name “wew Bendi Rata” (Country of Reservoirs) was used to describe Polonnaruwa. The tank was originally consist of 5 large reservoirs naming Thopa wewa, Eramudu Wewa, Dumbuthulu Wewa, Kalahagala Wewa and Bhu Wewa in-order to reduce the pressure of the main dam
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Gal Viharaya or Stone Temple which is named as a world heritage site consists of most perfect specimen of Buddha statue hewn out of solid stone. The Gal Vihara consists of four separate images, all cut from one long slab of granite. The standing Buddha is 7m tall and is said to be the finest of the series and the reclining Buddha depicted entering parinirvana (nirvana-after-death) is 14m long
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Vejayanta Pasada,King parakramabahu, W2V2+282, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
The Royal Palace constructed by Parakramabahu also known as Vijayotpaya/Vijayanta Prasada, is a must-see attraction of the Polonnaruwa UNESCO Heritage Site. It is a magnificent structure measuring 31m by 13m, and is said to have had seven storeys and thousand rooms and had taken about seven years and seven months to complete the constructions. However, as the great castle was destroyed by fire during the Maga invasion, there are only structural remains of three floors, 55 rooms, and burnt brick walls. Today its crumbling remains look like giant cavity-ravaged molars.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Lankathilaka Image House, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa Lankathilaka Image House is a monolithic Buddha image house built by king Parakramabahu (1153-1186) lying on the South of Kiri Vehera. The building is complete made out of bricks and the outer walls are covered with elaborate designs and carvings. The Buddha statue is also completely made out of clay bricks and it has been 41 feet in height. Specially made flat bricks have been used to build this statue and today the portion above the shoulder is destroyed. Its interior reminds you a bit of a Western European cathedral
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kiri Vehera, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Gleaming white, its name means ‘milk white temple’ derives its present name from the fact that the lime plaster of the dome is better preserved than most other stupas in Polonnaruwa. It was built by Karakramabahu to honor Subadra, his wife and queen. It has been minimally restored. This large white stupa is located near the Lankathilaka. It is reputed to have been built by Queen Subadra, one of the wives of King Parakramabahu 1. Its original name was Rupavathi Stupa. An impressive sight, the second highest stupa on site at 24.5m height
Duration: 45 minutes
