Brief
Polonnaruwa - located at a distance of 216 km from Colombo-was the capital of Sri Lanka in medieval times. Used by the Sri Lankan kings as a 'country residence' from the 7th century, Polonnurawa became Sri Lanka's capital in the 11th century AD. During its time the city was fortified with three concentric walls, beautified with parks and gardens and sanctified by many a shrine and sacred place. The city and the surrounding area were watered by a unique irrigational complex known as the Sea of Parakrama (Parakrama Samudra).

History
Polonnaruwa is the ancient capital of Sri Lanka from the eleventh to thirteenth centuries and the repository of outstanding ruins, frescoes and enormous statues of reclining Buddhas. The ruins of the old city are on the shores of Lake Topawewa, man-made during the reign of a twelfth century king—a huge task, when one considers it was accomplished with nothing but manual labor. What remains of the ancient city itself is a cluster of palaces and temples contained within a rectangular city wall. The foundations of the royal palace and the king's audience hall are particularly well preserved.

Reasons to visit
We welcome you to the most exciting tourist attractions and travel destinations which are given below. We take into notice each and every details about recreation, entertainment, adventure and relaxation. By looking at the things to do in city one can see if that spot offers romance, family fun, sightseeing or adventure. Drill down into the tourist attractions below to find out more about each place and see how the local customs create a unique atmosphere.

Gal Vihara(Stone Shrine)
The Gal Vihara at Polonnaruwa represents the pinnacle of Sinhalese rock carving. The four great Buddha statues herein with the serene facial expressions & liquid flow of the robes, all carved from the same massive slab of granite, originally formed part of King Parakrambahu's northern monastery complex. As the sockets cut into rock behind the statues indicate, each statue would originally have been housed in its own enclosure.

Buddha in parinirvana
The great reclining image of the Buddha entering nirvana is 14m long. A huge but supremely graceful figure is carved in a serene posture. The face, delicately flecked with variations in the natural colour of the rock is especially beautiful. The unknown sculptor has carved the great statue with such tenderness even the bolster like pillow carry a subtle depression under the head & sun-wheel symbol on the pillow end. Buddha's parnirvana (final extinction, rather than death) is indicated in part, by means of the higher foot which is slightly withdrawn: the pain caused by the last breath. This Buddha statue is of such beauty that it inspired hundreds of years of Sinhalese art, but was never matched.

Standing Buddha Statue
The seven meter tall standing Buddha statue next to the reclining Buddha statue is the most unusual of the group of four Buddha statues: his arms folded & his eyes half-closed. It's a sorrowful expression. Dark strata in the rock sweep contour lines across the delicately carved features of his face like the slipstream from a dream.

Seated Buddhas
Two splendid seated Buddhas complete the group. Both are sculpted in "dhyani mudra" (meditation posture). The smaller seated Buddha is cut into in a cave-like recess. The larger seated Buddha is framed by Sanchi-style arch, with tiny bodhisattavas looking down on him from their celestial dwellings-perhaps showing a touch of Mahayana Buddhist influence, with its belief in Bodhisattvas.

Lotus Pond
A stone pond built in the shape of a lotus flower in eight parallel tiers probably to provide seating to the monks while bathing.