Sri Lanka’s Ancient Kingdom Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa: Sri Lanka’s Ancient Kingdom of Majesty and History

Introduction

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is one of the vast cities in Sri Lanka and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city used to boast an island-rich capital and a current state that yields well-preserved ruins, grand palaces, Buddhist temples, and exceptionally carved sculptures. So, for history buffs and travelers alike, Polonnaruwa is an opportunity to be there and immerse them in what was once glory in Sri Lanka.

Polonnaruwa, North Central Province, thrived between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, ruled by powerful kings. Today, it is a major tourist attraction where visitors come to witness the splendor of the island's heritage. This guide will detail the wonders of Polonnaruwa; its historical significance, sites of interest worth seeing, and other useful hints for travelers.

Historical Significance of Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa became the seat of capital in Ceylon after the Chola dynasty's invading forces from South India razed Anuradhapura to the ground in the 10th century. Later, King Vijayabahu I (1055-1110) wrested control from the Cholas and made Polonnaruwa their capital.

But it was King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) during whose time Polonnaruwa attained its zenith. He undertook huge irrigation schemes, including the gigantic Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama) that today provides the lifeblood for agriculture, as well as beautiful temples, palaces, and monasteries, many of which stand erect to this day.

By the end of the 13th century Polonnaruwa faced decline because of invasions and following a change of political center which gave rise to Kandy as the next capital. The ruins of Polonnaruwa are now a poignant reminder of the grandeur of Sri Lanka's medieval civilization.

Top Attractions in Polonnaruwa

1. The Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I

Vaijayantha Prasada, the Royal Palace of the King Parakramabahu I, is famous historic place present in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. The palace was constructed in the 12th century AD during the reign of King Parakramabahu I and was a magnificent structure with seven stories and about 1,000 chambers2. The palace served as a pleasure palace for the king and testified to the architecture of the ancient kingdom. 

Presently, the ruins of the great palace may be visited. The ruins include vestiges of the brick walls and remains of some of the more delicate carvings that once adorned the palace. Some of the walls leading into the entrance are still erect to reminisce about how magnificently the palace must have lived. A courtyard now lies in ruins while the main court of the palace was once the site where several royal instructions would take place. 

Nevertheless, the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I remained to tell more than one story about its long life, invasions, decay, and forlornness, giving it importance as a cultural and historical landmark. However, it stands as a one-window gate into a few fine instances of Polonnaruwa2. It allows one more trip to this place to feel and appreciate the long history of Sri Lanka and the great contribution from one of her great kings.

2. The Quadrangle (Dalada Maluwa)

The Quadrangle or Dalada Maluwa is one among the longest established archaeological sites in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Impressive ruins in the raised terrace have been set to fill the periphery walled area, the very heart of this ancient city. It is frequent with well-preserved buildings that were conceived in architectural and artistic brilliance of the Polonnaruwa period. 

One of the more outstanding structures composing the Quadrangle is the Vatadage, a circular relic house draped in enchanting guard stones, moonstones, and profusely carved stone steps; it is believed to have once contained the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha. There is yet another prominent building called the Hatadage-two-storied structure said to have housed the Tooth Relic. This Quadrangle has also the Atadage, another relic house built by King Vijayabahu I. 

The most noticeable constructions include the Nissanka Latha Mandapaya among others, with its irrefutable honed stone pillars, and The Giant Book, which is a very large stone slab engraved with ancient texts. By this, the gaze translated into its mind includes the Thuparama Gedige, which reportedly is the oldest image house in Polonnaruwa, and the Satmahal Prasada, which is an extremely rare pyramid styled. The site is thronged with a high promising experience of the ancient rich history and cultural heritage of Sri Lanka.

Several of these will be discussed below:

Vatadage – The Quadrangular area called Dalada Maluwa is a sanctified area of Polonnaruwa where some of the most important religious monuments are situated. Several of these will be discussed below:

Hatadage –Constructed. A relic house that was built by King Nissanka Malla known for its stone inscriptions.

Thuparama Image House – Home to a large, well-preserved Buddha statue.

3. Gal Vihara

                                                             

Gal Vihara or "Rock Temple", located in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, is one of the beautifully constructed sites of Buddhist religious significance. The temple has existed for 12 centuries and has not stopped attracting pilgrims. World-famous rock-cut statues were directly carved from the face of a monolithic granite rock.

There are four main statues of Buddha at Gal Vihara: A seated figure meditating with the Dhyana mudra is the first; a seated small Buddha in a cave suggesting an unknown meditation aspect of Buddhism is the second; the third is a standing Buddha with arms crossed, conveying tranquility and serenity; and the last one is a reclining 14-meter (46 feet) long statue, that represents the passing away of the Buddha into Nirvana.

They say that these statues depict the styles and detailing of master craftsmen of the ancient time. This site has been considered a sacred pilgrimage for Buddhists all over the world, attracting thousands every year, merely by its silence and beauty. The very existence of Gal Vihara itself is the testament to rich cultural and religious heritage sculpted by the hand of mankind in Sri Lanka.

4. Rankoth Vehera

Rankoth Vehera is popularly known as the Gold Pinnacle Stupa. This enormous stupa is a construction that was initiated during the reign of King Nissanka Malla in the 12th century in Polonnaruwa; it is the largest in Polonnaruwa as well as the fourth largest in the entire nation. A 'Rankoth Vehera' indicates a huge stupa with an excellent golden pinnacling and is fairly an interesting historical exponent. 

Heightwise it is about 55m and has an approximate circumference of 165m around. Built on a brick formation and surrounded by the courtyard of several small stupas and relic chambers, the stupa has a very impressive dome which is surmounted by a probably gilded once captain out of gold, thus, it has an imposing appearance.

5. Lankatilaka Image House

Going back into history, Lankatilaka Image House has legend-forged marks on path-breaking dates in the 12th century. Indeed, from ancient concepts of magnificence, this is a huge, aura-filled, and imposing example near Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka. Image House built most probably during King Parakramabahu I's reign which needs no introduction when one speaks about glory and grandeur of its architecture. With gigantic brick walls soaring up to a height of nearly 17 m, Lankatilaka Image House is one structure whose presence commands extraordinary respect.

It is beautifully ornamented outside the entrance to the image house with grandly designed and finely carved door. It is awash with wonderful views moving in, where one could notice a standing statue of almost 14m high of the Lord Buddha. Audibly resounding with a very nuanced portrayal of majesty and reverence, it mirrors its erstwhile glory. The interior walls of Lankatilaka Image House are beautifully ornamented with stunning frescoes and carvings depicting various episodes from Buddhist mythology.

A building whose architecture has quite aptly represented the mix of the contemporary Sinhalese and South Indian styles. The dual purpose Lankatilaka Image House serves as a temple and shrine and as a monument to the ancient creative and engineering genius of Sri Lankan civilization. It is not only for the artistically beautiful shrine that people come to this history-laden shrine; it is also for the place's greater spiritual significance and the hurly-burly of culture.

6. Parakrama Samudra

Located at Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, Parakrama Samudra is built, according to this tradition, into a 12th-century king of Sri Lanka, King Parakramabahu I. This wide reservoir is a vivid testimony to the ancient civilization of Sri Lanka in its enginery and mastery of civil engineering. Thus, it is only appropriate to call the collection of these water bodies as "Parakrama Samudra " - Sanskrit for "ocean". 

The average reservoir area is about 2500 ha with a total storages' potential of about 134 million cubic meters of water.Primarily, it is constructed for optimum storage of water as well as considering the supply during the seasons for nearby lands, under agriculture. The engineering care taken for its maintenance is so that the water could be made available for agriculture all around in dry spells. The water is fed into a complex canal and minor tank system sampled by another wonder, really filtering through for the entire accomplishment of the Polonnaruwa monarchy in terms of distribution and management purposes.

Currently, Parakrama Samudra is also an important reservoir for the locality and a great tourism spot. Tourists enjoy their precious moments here at this getting view, which is just mind-blowing with the calm waters of the reservoir and abundance of greenery around. A lot of birds and aquatic animals reside in and around the water body, making it much more interesting for those who love nature. Parakrama Samudra is a promise of ancient hydraulic engineering and an important dimension in Sri Lankan cultural heritage.

7. Nissanka Latha Mandapaya

The Mandapa of Nissanka Latha is a very rare and beautiful monument in Polonnaruwa; historically important and dated back to the twelfth century, it was built by King Nissanka Malla to stand as a superlative example of the architectural skill and artistic genius of the ancient Sinhalese civilization. The Nissanka Latha Mandapaya is said to be a square-shaped pavilion which is raised upon exquisitely carved stone pillars, where the sculptural depiction of the pillars resembles the stem of the lotus flower, thus naming the Mandapaya-"Lotus Hall" in Sinhalese.

Above a plinth stand the eight symmetrical beautifully carved pillars curved downwards towards the top. This shape resembles that of blossoming lotus buds. These beautifully carved pillars, representative of the high standards of skill achieved by the artisans of the period, symbolize resilience in their craft. In the middle, the interior of the pavilion has a very small stone platform which was believed to have been used for carrying out religious activities and ceremonies from time to time.

The Nissanka Latha Mandawa falls under the bigger Quadrangle complex which is the most important archaeological site in Polonnaruwa. A beautiful oasis of stillness and spiritual aura where one can behold the absolute beauty and architectural grandeur of the kingdom in yesteryears. The venue accounts for much of the historical and cultural heritage that Sri Lanka has and quite excitingly glances backward into its past.

8. Shiva Devalaya

The Shiva Devalaya has served as a major archaeological and religious attraction that rather considerably reflects the presence of Hinduism during the medieval period. Along with other Hindu shrines, Polonnaruwa in general was inhabited from approximately 1017 to 1070 CE in the Chola period when the building of the temple began. 

Shiva Devalaya No. 1 is the other of the two major Shiva temples in Polonnaruwa. An edifice stands in honor of a stone shrine which holds a linga that represents Lord Shiva. With its form square in plan, the temple belongs to the Dravidian style; the own high-roof pyramid shape contrasts the cathedral itself. Its walls are extensively carved and sculpted with different motifs along with the numerous other idols of Hindu deities.

This temple, when compared to Shiva Devalaya No. 1, is devoid of grandeur; rather, it has spectacular simplicity that totally stands out from any temples in the area. The entire edifice is made in fine-grained granite with diamond-like structural integrity and has bravely stood the test of time. The layout follows the South Indian temple architectural tradition with that of the garbhagraha (inner sanctum), antarala (vestibule), and the mandapa (courtyard).

These temples stand as reminders of the multicultural and multi-religious history of the island and attract devotees and tourists who seek to open yet another thread from the rich cultural tapestry of this region. The Shiva Devalayas in Polonnaruwa assert whatever little remains, indicating Christian continuity, and speak of the extraordinary talents of those builders.

Things to Do in Polonnaruwa

1. Explore the Ruins by Bicycle

Polonnaruwa is best explored on bicycle. The archaeological site is vast, which means visitors can take their time and enjoy the antiquities. Bicycle rentals are available near the entrance to the ancient city.

2. Visit the Polonnaruwa Museum

The world of the Polonnaruwa Museum, which offers the richest insight into its past, monuments, and architecture, is one of the most superb places to begin your visit before the ruins.

3. Experience Local Wildlife

Polonnaruwa is quite close to the Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks, which during the dry season boasts the famous gathering of elephants. These parks are also home to many bird species, deer, and leopards.

4. Enjoy a Sunset at Parakrama Samudra

It sounds peaceful sitting by Parakrama Samudra, as the sun sets. The big reservoir closely corresponds with the colors of the evening sky, which makes it beautify sight.

Travel Tips for Visiting Polonnaruwa

Best Time to Visit: The best time to visit Polonnaruwa is from December to April when the weather is cooler and drier. 

Entrance Fee: The entry ticket to the Polonnaruwa archaeological site is around $25 for foreign tourists. 

Dress Code: Since many sites are of a religious nature, it is advised to be decently dressed, covering the shoulders as well as the knees.

Getting There:

Car/Taxi: The drive from Colombo to Polonnaruwa takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes.

By Train/Bus: For those seeking to travel to Habarana, jumping on a train will bring them to the destination. From there, they can board a bus. Direct buses are available from Colombo, Kandy, and Anuradhapura.

Where to Stay: Situated in the north of the country, Jaffna is fast becoming one of the most attractive tourist places in Sri Lanka.

Ending Statement

With its ancient ruins, stately sculptures, and bucolic surrounding, Polonnaruwa is one of the important places seen in Sri Lanka. Whether you are a history buff, a spiritual person, or just an ordinary tourist, Polonnaruwa ensures life-enriching experiences that more than connect you to the great past of this island.