Take a tour around Polonnaruwa
Located about 200 kilometers from Colombo in North Central Province of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa was once a well-planned royal ancient city and thriving religious center of the eponymous kingdom some 800 years ago. The heyday of the medieval city can still be found in its archaeological park with hundreds of ancient treasures – palaces, pavilions, temples, stupas, ponds and irrigation lakes – that make it named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Among many temples and religious buildings, be sure you pay a visit to the massive Royal Palace, the Sacred Quadrangle with the Vatadage (the circular chamber of the relics), the Shiva Devale temples, the impressive Gal Vihara with four beautiful Buddha statues, and the vast irrigation lake called “Parakrama Samudraya” or the sea of Parakrama, built to collect rain water. The park itself is a delight to explore and a day tour around Polonnaruwa ancient city is certainly a highlight for those keen on uncovering the colorful tapestry of history and culture of Sri Lanka.
