Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa was the capital in the 11th and 12th century of Srilanka, and the ancient city is today one of the most beautiful centers of this island's cultural heritage. A great number of beautiful monuments are gathered in the natural reserve.
In side the city there is strong 3 and 1/2 miles long encircling wall, this housed for hundreds of thousands of people , where today monkeys and birds are the only inhabitants. But the glories of this ancient capital have not been lost to the world, and enough remains from this magnificent civilization can be seen today.
Polonnaruwa is situated in the middle of a wide plain in the Dry Zone of Srilanka. In historic times the area would have all been Jungle, later settlements appeared and made clearing in the jungle, and started to cultivate the land. In Sri Lanka huge dams were being constructed to store water. and paddy cultivation which requires large amount of water.
During the early Anuradapura period, there was a military garrison stationed at Polonnaruwa, but there is no record of large town until the beginning of the the 6th century A.D, however Polonnaruwa became a place of some importance. At that time this city was called as "Pulatthinagara" which means " The city of Pulasti" Although Srilanka is a Buddhist country , sages who were Hindu holy men were respected, This early period of Polonnaruwa stretches from the birth of the prophet Mohammed in Arabia, through the Dark Ages of Europe, and the Tang Dynasty of China.

The popular places in Polonnaruwa are.

1. Parakrema Samudra - The Sea of King Parakremabahu.

This lake extends to the south and west of the ancient city, provided water for the population of Polonnaruwa, and the large area of paddy fields that supplied their food. It has been restored more or less as Parakramabahu constructed it and covers an area of more than nine squire miles. The dam, or bund, as it is known in Srilanka. is eight and half miles long and forty feet high. The Tanks irrigate an area of twenty - eight squire miles of rice fields.

2. Council chamber of King Nissankamalla.

The council chamber built by King Nissankamalla is one of the most interesting building in Polonnaruwa, because the inscription of the columns inside the building record the position occupied by the king's council headed by the king on magnificent ' Lion throne ' giving us a picture of how the political system of its day must have worked.

3. Vejeyantha Pasada -The Royal Palace of King Parakremabahu

King named it the Vijayantha Pasada after the palace of the God Indra, It must have been a very large building, and the chronicle describes it as seven stories high, furnished with a thousands chambers' The remains of three stories can be seen .

4. Kumara Pokuna

Kumara Pokuna is the royal bath. The water of this pond may have been perfumed, flowered into the bath from the sides, and the solid masses of stone ensured that even on the hottest day, the water was cool.

5. Dalada Maluwa - The Terrace of the tooth Relic

A magnificent group of building stands on this terrace, including some of the finest decorated architecture at Polonnaruwa . The terrace of the tooth relic was in the center of the ancient city, and the protection of sacred Tooth Relic in Polonnaruwa period became an important symbol of the royal power. The Dagabas of Anuradapura may have been looted by treasure - seekers and many sacred relics may have been lost to the world, but the sacred tooth Relic of Lord Buddha now in the Dalada Maligava in Kandy, has been protected through the ages by the Sri Lankan people.

6. The Vatadage

The vatadage is one of the most beautiful buildings in Polonnaruwa. Sri Lankan architects designed the Vatadage to protect and house a dagaba, the sacred mound of brick, built to entomb relics of the Buddha. which can be seen in the center of the building . The conical roof was supported by the circles of stone columns in the center .

7. The Gal Vihara

The Gal vihara , or ' rock shrine' is the modern name given to the magnificent group of rock sculptures. During kings period this temple was called as Uttararama built by King Parakremabahu in the 12th century. It includes some of the master- pices of Sri Lankan Buddhist art, and these were commissioned by king Parakremabahu the Great. The huge rock sculptures were originally enclosed by brick buildings, whose foundation can still be seen. The sockets cut into rock- face show the lines of walls.
The first sculpture is a seated Buddha image in deep meditation on a throne decorated with lions. Second image is inside a cave out of solid rock. The seated Buddha is protected by an umbrella. Next the standing figure 7 meters high with crossed arms. An immense figure of the Buddha, lying on His side ,is the last sculpture in the group. The Buddha is lying down, at the final moment of his earthy life.