Polonnaruwa is the second great ancient capital of Sri Lanka and is easier to explore than Anuradhapura because its main ruins are close together. Many visitors hire bicycles to move between the sites.
A short history
Polonnaruwa became the capital in the 11th century and reached its peak under King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century, when the vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir was built. The city’s ruins, including palaces, temples and beautifully carved Buddha statues, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and show a different style from the older capital at Anuradhapura.
Getting there
Polonnaruwa is roughly one and a half hours from Sigiriya and about five hours from Colombo. Minneriya and Kaudulla national parks, popular for elephant safaris, are nearby.
