Visit Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

The second Buddhist capital after Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa is more accessible and better preserved than its predecessor.

Ancient sites

The numerous sites are grouped in clusters outside the modern town and enable the visitor to easily imagine life in the ancient city.

Rock carvings

The palaces, royal buildings and Buddhist shrines boast some captivating examples of master craftsmanship, the most notable being the Gal Vihara’s beautiful images of the reclining and meditating Buddha carved into the rock face. The level of detail in the carvings and their well preserved condition makes it hard to believe they are almost a thousand years old.