✦ North Central Province
Polonnaruwa
The medieval royal capital — rock-cut Buddhas, palaces and a vast 12th-century reservoir.
Photo: Philip Nalangan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
Destination guide
About Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s capital after the fall of Anuradhapura at the end of the 10th century and flourished in the 11th and 12th centuries, especially under King Parakramabahu I. The compact ancient city includes the royal palace, the circular Vatadage, the Gal Vihara rock-cut Buddha images and the great Parakrama Samudra reservoir.
The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. It is easy to explore by bicycle, and the elephant gatherings of Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks are close by.
Why visit
- UNESCO World Heritage Site (Ancient City of Polonnaruwa)
- Gal Vihara rock-cut Buddha images
- Compact site, ideal by bicycle
- Minneriya and Kaudulla elephant parks nearby
Things to do in Polonnaruwa
- Cycle the ancient city
- Gal Vihara and the Vatadage
- Sunset over Parakrama Samudra
- Evening elephant safari at Minneriya or Kaudulla
Tours that include Polonnaruwa
Culture
Anuradhapura–Polonnaruwa–Sigiriya–Kandy
Ancient Kingdoms 8-Day Heritage Tour
Kings ruled from Anuradhapura for more than a thousand years before power shifted to Polonnaruwa and, much later, to Kandy. Trace that…
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Anuradhapura → Kandy
Heritage
Jaffna–Anuradhapura–Polonnaruwa–Sigiriya
Northern and Ancient Kingdoms 8-Day Tour
Few journeys begin where this one does, among the palmyra palms and brightly painted kovils of Jaffna. From the Tamil north you…
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Jaffna → Sigiriya
Heritage
Polonnaruwa–Minneriya
Polonnaruwa Heritage 3-Day Tour
What did a twelfth-century royal city look like? In Polonnaruwa you can cycle between its palaces, monasteries and the Gal Vihara, where…
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Polonnaruwa → Polonnaruwa
★ Featured
Cultural
Anuradhapura–Sigiriya–Dambulla–Polonnaruwa
Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle 6-Day Journey
Read Sri Lanka's history in stone, from the sacred city of Anuradhapura to the medieval courts of Polonnaruwa. Along the way, travellers…
- 6 days / 5 nights
- Colombo → Polonnaruwa
Safari
Wilpattu–Minneriya–Yala–Udawalawe
Wild Sri Lanka 8-Day Wildlife Tour
Dawn mist lifting off Wilpattu's lake-like villus, elephants massing on the grassy shores of Minneriya, Yala's rocky outcrops where leopards sometimes rest:…
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Wilpattu → Udawalawe
Where to stay near Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa
EKHO Lake House
A heritage hotel on the banks of the ancient Parakrama Samudra reservoir, about 2 km from the UNESCO-listed ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
Polonnaruwa
Hotel Sudu Araliya
An Araliya Resorts hotel in New Town, Polonnaruwa, on the banks of the Parakrama Samudra reservoir.
Giritale
The Deer Park Hotel
A hotel of individual cottages set in forest at Giritale, next to the Minneriya-Giritale protected area.
Experiences in and around Polonnaruwa
★ Featured
Wildlife
Kaudulla
Kaudulla Elephant Safari
Dust settles on the grassy shore of an ancient reservoir as herds wade out to drink, calves pressed close to their mothers.…
- 3–4 hours
- August–December
★ Featured
Wildlife
Minneriya
Minneriya Elephant Safari
In a good dry season, hundreds of elephants may spread across the drying bed of Minneriya tank as late sun gilds the…
- 3–4 hours
- June–October (peak August–September)
Nature
Anuradhapura / Polonnaruwa
Paddy Field Cycling
Morning mist hangs over emerald rice fields as you pedal along narrow earth bunds, past ancient reservoirs and grazing water buffalo. Explore…
- 2–4 hours
- Year-round
Culture
Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Ancient City Cycling
Toque macaques scamper along crumbling palace walls and mist lifts off a twelfth-century reservoir as you cycle the quiet roads of Polonnaruwa,…
- 3–4 hours
- Year-round (driest March–September)
Heritage near Polonnaruwa
Culture
Polonnaruwa
Alahana Parivena
Alahana Parivena is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Polonnaruwa. It is presented as a travel and cultural…
- Medieval period
★ Featured
Culture
UNESCO
Polonnaruwa
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Ancient City of Polonnaruwa is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Polonnaruwa. It is presented as a travel…
- 11th–13th century AD
Culture
Polonnaruwa District
Dimbulagala Monastery
Dimbulagala Monastery is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Polonnaruwa District. It is presented as a travel and…
- Ancient / medieval period
Culture
UNESCO
Polonnaruwa
Gal Vihara
Gal Vihara is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Polonnaruwa. It is presented as a travel and cultural…
- 12th century AD
Culture
Polonnaruwa
Lankatilaka Image House
Lankatilaka Image House is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Polonnaruwa. It is presented as a travel and…
- 12th century AD
Culture
Medirigiriya
Medirigiriya Vatadage
Medirigiriya Vatadage is a real Sri Lankan heritage site or cultural landmark in Medirigiriya. It is presented as a travel and cultural…
- Ancient / medieval period
🍛 Local flavours
Food to try in Polonnaruwa
- Freshwater fish curry from the ancient reservoirs
- Buffalo curd with kithul treacle
- Rice and curry
Best time to visit Polonnaruwa
- JanPossible, with more rain or heat
- FebPossible, with more rain or heat
- MarPossible, with more rain or heat
- AprPossible, with more rain or heat
- MayUsually the best months
- JunUsually the best months
- JulUsually the best months
- AugUsually the best months
- SepUsually the best months
- OctPossible, with more rain or heat
- NovPossible, with more rain or heat
- DecPossible, with more rain or heat
Generally drier May–September; the elephant 'gathering' at Minneriya is usually around July–October
Sri Lanka has two monsoons, so when one coast is rainy the other is usually dry — weather varies from year to year.
🎉 Events
Festivals & events in Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa on the map
Destinations near Polonnaruwa
References / Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Ancient City of Polonnaruwa: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/201
- Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka: https://www.archaeology.gov.lk
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