Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa was the second great capital of the island during the medieval period and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Gal Vihara rock temple is its most famous monument where four statues of the Buddha are carved from a single granite rock with extraordinary detail. Walking among palace ruins, lotus ponds, and ancient gardens you feel the harmony of urban planning and spiritual artistry that shaped the kingdom. Polonnaruwa also showcases Sri Lanka’s transition from stone to brick architecture and stands as proof of a refined and organized civilization.