Colombo Trip Overview
Discover the ruined city of Polonnaruwa on this private day tour from Negombo/Colombo. It’s the ruins, shrines, and temples that attract travelers to Polonnaruwa, that’s for sure. As you start exploring you notice how well-preserved the ancient city really is. This is mainly because of the materials that were used during the renovation.The Polonnaruwa ruins are formed by unique stupas, well-preserved temples, and harmonious looking Buddha statues.
• Explore the ruins and highlights of the glorious ancient capital of Polonnaruwa with this flexible tour itinerary
• See the many monuments of Buddhist and Hindu religion
• Unique experience – definitely something to write home about
Additional Info
Duration: 12 to 14 hours
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
Discover the ruined city of Polonnaruwa on this private day tour from Negombo/Colombo. It’s the ruins, shrines, and temples that attract travelers to Polonnaruwa, that’s for sure. As you start exploring you notice how well-preserved the ancient city really is. This is mainly because of the materials that were used during the renovation.The Polonnaruwa ruins are formed by unique stupas, well-preserved temples, and harmonious looking Buddha statues.
• Explore the ruins and highlights of the glorious ancient capital of Polonnaruwa with this flexible tour itinerary
• See the many monuments of Buddhist and Hindu religion
• Unique experience – definitely something to write home about
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sacred City, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
One of the more unique structures of the entire kingdom, the Polonnaruwa Vatadage has a long and illustrious history. Considered to be the only structure of its kind in the whole of Sri Lanka, this complex is believed to be the place in which the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Lord Buddha was housed, following the shift in the capital from Anuradhapura in the 11th century. There are many chronicles that talk of its origins, however, none of them can be confirmed to be truly accurate. The ‘Culavamsa’ dictates that the structure was built by King Parakramabahu to house the Sacred Tooth Relic, however, other texts such as the ‘Rajavaliya’ and the ‘ Poojavaliya’ claim that it was built by King Nissanka Malla, and was used as the depository for the alms bowl used by Lord Buddha. Regardless of its origins, the structure is a fine example of Polonnaruwa craftsmanship.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Gal Vihara, 440/225 Palm Grove State Minuwangoda road, Polonnaruwa 51000 Sri Lanka
Built somewhere in the 12th century, during the reign of King Parakramabahu, the Gal Vihara is a unique vestige that further confirms the intricacies of the craftsman that dwelled in the ancient kingdom. Literally translated as ‘Rock Temple’, the temple is still a major place of worship to many Buddhists in the country. There are three statues that are of great interest, as it depicts the Lord Buddha in three unique positions. The seated statue shows the Buddha depicting the Dhyana mudra, while the reclining statue depicts the Parinirvana position, and is one of the most intricately sculpted statues, as the depression of the pillow, along with the lotus symbol on the side is still very visible even to this day. The standing image, on the other hand, is believed to be the Lord Buddha depicting an unusual gesture, which has led many archaeologists to believe that it is not the depiction of the Buddha, but his disciple Ananda.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Royal Palace of King Maha Parakramabahu, W2V2+282, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka
Once towering at 7 stories, and believed to have around 1,000 chambers, the Palace of the great King Parakramabahu is a reminder of just how great the kingdom was. Built in the 12th century AD, this unique palace was also shared with his ministers, generals and servants. The prosperous kingdom, however, was subjected to constant Chola invasions in the 14th century, which in turn resulted in the kingdom to shift to the region of Ruhuna in the south of the island. This unfortunate event resulted in the magnificent palace to be plundered and razed to the ground, never to be rebuilt again. Although no longer boasting its original grandeur, the palace is still a testament to the architectural craftsmanship of the ancient kingdom, and still has an intimate connection to the country’s illustrious history due to its association with the great King Parakramabahu.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
One of the more unique structures built by King Nissankamalla in the 1100s, the Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is believed to be the recitation house for Buddhist chanting (pirith), and still stands as an important monument that showcases how the religion of Buddhism influenced society back in the day. The monument is located in the western end of the ‘Dalada Maluwa’ (the place in which the Sacred Tooth Relic was housed), making its significance all the more relevant in the annals of Sri Lankan history. The complex is also known to be the ‘King’s Court’ by some archaeologists. Its highlighting factor is its open-air design which possesses some unique looking pillars that are crafted in such a way that it depicts blooming lotus flowers.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Lankathilaka Image House, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Standing tall in the ancient citadel of Polonnaruwa, the Lankathilaka Image House is an exemplary monument that displays the elaborate and intricate craftsmanship of the sculptors of old. The complex is built in the typical ‘Gedige’ style, which is inspired by Indian architecture reminiscent of that of the Ellora Caves in India. Its walls are lined with carvings and sculptures of religious figures, along with mythical figures. Of course, the most notable being the standing image of the Lord Buddha. Although destroyed, one can imagine how it would have towered over devotees back in its heyday. In addition to the statue of Lord Buddha, there are also other unique features of interest, such as the guard stone images that have been immaculately carved from the large pillars at the entrance.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Samudra Parakrama, Polonnaruwa Sri Lanka
Another ancient monument that was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Parakramabahu, the Parakrama Samudra is a testament to the engineers of the ancient kingdom. As Polonnaruwa lies in the dry and arid lands of the island, the area experiences two seasons of monsoon rain, which was never enough to keep the populace healthy. The Parakrama Samudra, sometimes called the ‘Sea of Parakrama’ was built as an irrigation solution, so as to supply water for the many paddy cultivations in the kingdom. Even today, the Parakrama Samudra supplies water to over 18000 acres of neighbouring cultivations. Presently though, the original grandeur has been lost due to the reconstruction of the artificial lake, which isolated two tributary rivers that fed the lake, namely the Kalahagala River and the Bhu River. In other words, the present lake is only fed by the Thopa River, Eramudu River, and the Dumbuthulu River.
Duration: 45 minutes
