Ancient City of Polonnaruwa description and photos - Sri Lanka: Polonnaruwa (Topic)

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa description and photos - Sri Lanka: Polonnaruwa. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Ancient City of Polonnaruwa.

Photo and description

Polonnaruwa is a city in the north-east of central Sri Lanka. In 1982, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

After being the royal capital for some time, Polonnaruwa, thanks to its convenient location at the intersection of important land transport routes between Colombo and Batticaloa has become a medium-sized city and gained fame for its ancient city. Now it is preserved as a historical park. The fact that it is close to several national parks attracts many visitors.

For three centuries, Polonnaruwa was the royal capital of the Chola and Sinhalese kingdoms. Despite being almost 1000 years old, she is much younger than Anuradhapura and better preserved. The monuments are located in a fairly compact garden and their development is easier to trace. The best way to explore Pollonaruwa is by bike, which can be rented from several locations in the city. For a small amount, you can also hire a guide who will tell you a lot of interesting facts.

The Chol dynasty from South India, after the conquest of Anuradhapura at the end of the 10th century, moved the capital to Polonnaruwa, as it was strategically best located to protect against any rebellion from the Sinhalese kingdom in the southeast. In addition, there were fewer mosquitoes. When the Sinhalese king Viyayabahu I expelled the Chola from the island in 1070, he left the capital at Polonnaruwa.

Under King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186), Polonnaruwa reached its zenith. The king erected huge buildings, beautiful parks, and, the crown of progress is the 2500 hectare irrigation system, which was so large that it was named the Parakrama Sea.

After Parakramabahu I, Nissanka-Malla (1187-1196) came to power, who practically bankrupted the kingdom by his attempts to match the achievements of his predecessors. By the early 13th century, Polonnaruwa, like Anuradhapura, became vulnerable to invasions from the south of India and in the end she was also abandoned, and the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom was moved to the west of the island.

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Topic: Ancient City of Polonnaruwa description and photos - Sri Lanka: Polonnaruwa.