The 3rd century BC saw Anuradhapura grow in importance for the Buddhist faith. In around 250 BC, Anuradhapura gained its first Buddhist sovereign, Tissa, and in the same century, the city was gifted a highly sacred object in the shape of a tree cutting.
The fig tree from which the cutting originated is believed to be the same one under which Siddharta – the founder of Buddhism – became enlightened.
The kings of Anuradhapura ruled for centuries, establishing a series of impressive monuments, from palaces and monasteries to sculptures and dagobas. However, the city suffered numerous attacks by the Tamils, Pandyas and Cholas. The final blow occurred in around 993 AD with an attack by King Chola Rajaraja I, after which Anuradhapura was abandoned in favour of Polonnaruwa.
Today, the modern city of Anuradhapura houses an incredible set of ruins belonging to its ancient counterpart, especially a number of Buddhist shrines.
There are numerous stupas and dagabas (mounds which house sacred relics), including the beautiful Ruwanwelisaya stupa with its thousands of elephant sculptures, the Thuparamaya and the vast Jetavanarama.
The sacred fig tree said to have grown from the ancient cutting also remains at the site, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from around the world.
Anuradhapura is a major city in Sri Lanka well-linked by road to most of the island. Jaffna International Airport is around 200 km away travelling via the A9, however also Anuradhapura has its own airport for domestic flights.
Anuradhapura Railway Station is located in the centre of the city, a short walk away to most attractions, while a number of bus services also run throughout, including the 57-18 that runs through part of the old town.
]]>From stone and bone tools in the prehistoric and proto-historic section to Sinhalese artefacts from the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva to the Kandy periods, the Colombo National Museum gives a good overview of Sri Lanka’s history.
On the upper floor, visitors can see everything from nineteenth century art to a collection of weaponry.
The museum was originally called the Colombo Museum, and was founded on 1 January 1877 by Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
The Royal Asiatic Society was instrumental in bringing Gregory’s attention to the need for a museum to display the cultural and natural heritage of the country. The result is a museum housed in a 150-year-old colonial building.
From 1877-1999, several other wings and extensions were added, such as a natural history museum and auditorium, which facilitated the extension of the library of ethnological and anthropological studies.
In 1877, a library was added, which the government Oriental library was also incorporated into.
The museum was given the status of national museum, and a further nine branch museums were opened, as well as a school science programme and a mobile museum service.
The museum has a copy of the Statue of Tara, which is a three-quarter life size statue of Tara which is currently in the British Museum. There are also crown jewels and the throne of the last King of Kandy, which were returned to Sri Lanka by the British Government.
Visitors can also enjoy the 15 main displays over two floors of interconnected colonial buildings. There are a number of items from the prehistoric age and iron age as well as numerous Buddha sculptures, old paintings, stone sculptures, Ganesh sculptures, old clothes and jewellery, agriculture, and coins.
The museum is often a destination for tours and tour guides, including from tour buses and cruises. It is therefore recommended to visit the museum during off-peak hours to avoid a surge.
From the centre of Colombo, the museum is a 7 minute drive via Darley Rd/T. B. Jayah Mawatha. There are also a number of connecting bus services that take around 20 minutes and depart regularly from the centre. By foot, the museum is reachable in around 45 minutes via Darley Rd/T. B. Jayah Mawatha.
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The site is located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. It was created during the 12th century by the king Parakrama Bahu I.
Originally part of the king’s Northern Monastery, the Gal Vihara is comprised of four such carvings, each with an individual pose – thought to each represent a different stage in Buddha’s life – and of different sizes. Carved into the face of a large granite gneiss rock, the images are considered to be some of the best examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpting and carving arts, and make the monument the most visited at Polonnaruwa.
The largest one is 46 feet high and depicts a reclining Buddha, while the oldest of the group, which shows Buddha standing, is 23 feet high.
The site was also where Parakramabahu I gathered a congregation of monks in order to purify the Buddhist priesthood, and later drew up a code of conduct for them. This code of conduct is recorded in an inscription on the same rock face containing the images of the Buddha.
Today, the large site is hugely popular with tourists and Buddhist worshippers alike. The Gal Vihara statues are contained within an unsightly metal structure, but are still well worth seeing due to their historical importance and detailed craftsmanship.
It is also recommended that you take a guide around the whole site of Polonnaruwa, as there are many stunning sites to see which require detailed explanation.
Appropriate clothing is expected, and no shoes are allowed to be worn at the site.
From the centre of Polonnaruwa, the site is reachable in around 10 minutes via the A11 road. There are also a number of buses – the 48-1, 48-3, 48-13, 48-16, and 48/218-1 – which depart from Jayanthi Film Hall every 15 minutes or so and take around 50 minutes. It is possible to walk – though it might be a long and hot journey, although the routes are mainly flat – and takes around 50 minutes via the Gallambarawa Road.
]]>Today, the Kandy National Museum displays an array of historical objects – over five thousand in all – right up to the 1815 document that transferred power to the British.
This former palace was established during the time of the last monarchy on the Island and was built according to the architectural features of Kandy period. The Palle Vahala building houses the primary exhibits and the main palace building houses a secondary exhibition. Apart from the captivating exhibits, one can also admire the unique architectural features of the Kandy period at this museum.
The building was used as a depository for historical artefacts made by the Kandy Art Association which was established in 1882 and artisans of Matale. The museum was opened to the public in 1942 and is located beside the temple of the sacred tooth which is a popular pilgrimage site.
The city of Kandy is a UNESCO world heritage site and was the last capital of the Sinhala kings whose patronage enabled the Dinahala culture to flourish for more than 2,500 years until the occupation of Sri Lank by the British in 1815.
The museum was declared a national museum in 1942 and exhibits a variety of royal relics and other historical artefacts.
Today the museum has over 5,000 items on display, including weapons, jewellery, tools, objects from the Kandian era between the 17th and 19th centuries and post British Colonial era. One such item is a copy of the 1815 agreement that signed the Kandyan provinces over to the British, known as “Kandyan Convention” or “Udarata Giwisuma.” Another highlight is a replica of the golden crown used by the Kandyan King Sri Wickrama Rajasingha.
In the grounds of the museum is a statue of Sir Henry War, a former Governor of Ceylon (1855-1860). It can be helpful to visit the museum with a guide.
The National Museum Kandy is situated next to the Temple of the Tooth Relic. It is a part of the Royal Palace of the King, the “Palle Vahala” or “Lower Palace.”
]]>Like other dagobas, Kiri Vihara is a domed structure, which would have been a stark white colour (in fact, its current name means “milk white shrine”).
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka after the destruction of Anuradhapura in 993.
It was constructed during the 11th Century AD and as per the name of the stupa, the whitewashed plaster still remains in a few places although much of it is still composed of bare stone. In its design, Kiri Vihara is quite simple, with no incredibly exuberant details in any of the background features.
During this era most of the vatadage and other protective buildings were built around the very smallest stupas, with more emphasis going towards the protective structure rather than towards the brick centrepiece, much less grand than the colossi of Anuradhapura or even the other great stupas of their own time.
In the shadow of the large stupa is a selection of small vahalkada, an architectural feature peculiar to Sri Lanka.Vahalkadas are small decorative platforms of varying shape and size that were probably altars for offerings of flowers and incense.
Construction of the dagoba Kiri Vihara is credited to Subhadra, King Parakramabahu I’s queen. The Kiri Vihara was originally known as the Rupavati Chetiya.
The present name means ‘milk white’ due to the fact that when the overgrown jungle was cleared away after 700 years of neglect, the original lime plaster was in near perfect condition. The stupa is also a part of the archaeological site called Alahana Pirivena.
It is still the best-preserved unrestored dagoba at Polonnaruwa. Considered to be the second biggest stupa in Polonnaruwa today, this stupa is the only stupa to survive 900 years of forces of nature and still remain in its original condition.
Polonnaruwa lies north of the Lankathilake Pilima Gee. To get to Polonnaruwa from major cities such as Colombo, you can travel by bus, train or taxi or ride hailing services such as uber. Polonnaruwa is 216km away from Colombo, (a 6 hour bus) and 104km from Anuradhapura, (a 3 hour bus). It is simple to travel by tuk tuk within the city.
]]>The Lankatilaka Vihara is believed to have been built during the reign of Parakramabahu (1153-1186) and to have been restored by Vijayabahu IV (1513-21).
The temple is in the Hiyarapitiya village, from the Udu Nuwara area of Kandy district in Sri Lanka. It It is wisely considered to be the most magnificent architectural building created during the Gampola era.
The history of the temple dates back to the 14th century. Historical reports state that the Gampola King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 AD, built the temple.
The architect, Sathapati Rayar, designed the temple using Sinhalese architecture of the Polonnaruwa era and also with other Dravidian (Indian) and Indo-Chinese architectural patterns.
The temple is located on a natural rock on a granite-based foundation. It possesses outstanding architectural features, and is embellished with traditional Sinhalese sculptures. Originally, the temple would have been four stories and 80ft high, but today only three stories remain.
Beautiful arches and sculptures enhance the thick outer walls, with many inscriptions in both Sinhala and Tamil cut into the solid rock describing the facilities provided to the temple and the land gifted by kings who ruled then.
Today, visitors to Lankatilaka Vihara enjoy the stunning architecture and craftmanship that have shaped the famous rich colours and artworks that make up the site. A Moonstone or ‘Sandakadapahana’ lies at the entrance flanked by two Korawakgalas (balustrades) bearing the Gajasinha design.
Through the arched doorway are two paintings of lions which have become some of the most recognisable and unique features of Lankatilaka Vihara.
The most striking artwork is the statue of the Seated Buddha, which is sheltered by a Dragon Arch and takes pride of place within the temple interior. Surrounding the statue are designs of trees and flowers, and the walls are adorned with paintings that depict the lives of the twenty-four previous Buddhas.
From Colombo, the temple is reachable in around 3 hours 20 minutes by car, along the Colombo-Kandy road. From there, you turn off at Pilimatalawa. A short distance of around 4km is all it takes to reach Lankatilaka, which stands tall at the crest of the Panhalgala Rock.
]]>Polonnaruwa was initially a temporary royal residence. However in the late 10th century, it became a capital city of Ceylon (the former name of Sri Lanka) after the ancient capital of Anuradhapura was conquered and destroyed by King Chola Rajaraja I. The Chola dynasty favoured Polonnaruwa over Anuradhapura as it was thought to be easier to defend.
Despite this reasoning, in 1070, King Vijayabahu I of the Sinhalese kingdom conquered Polonnaruwa and made it his capital, exiling the Cholas. Vijayabahu set about adorning Polonnaruwa with Buddhist monuments, as opposed to the Brahmanist monuments of the Chola dynasty.
Overall, Polonnaruwa would remain the capital for three centuries, with the 12th century seeing a mass building project undertaken under King Parakramabahu I.
Parakramabahu constructed beautiful palaces, monuments, parks and gardens. The well-preserved ruins of many of the structures built during this time can be seen at Polonnaruwa today, such as its star attraction, the collection of vast Buddha sculptures known as the Gal Vihara.
Another monument created under Parakramabahu is the Lankatilaka, a grand sacred structure known as a “gedige” which houses a large headless Buddha statue.
Polonnaruwa has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982.
The monuments of ancient Polonnaruwa are within easy reach of one another within the modern city. Many tourists choose to hire bicycles to get around.
]]>This is a great place to start a trip to Polonnaruwa, particularly as its models of the city’s buildings allow visitors to imagine how it would have appeared hundreds of years ago.
Moving through the museum, visitors can learn about this former capital by theme, with a highlight including a series of Chola bronzes.
The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum provides an overview of what visitors can expect at the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Site through a display of artefacts and replica models of some of the archaeological sites.
One of these replica models includes a model of a dagoba (a monument to display a statue of Buddha), which is now only made up of pillars, but would have originally had a roof.
Highlights on display include a bronze chest, ancient medical tools, and bronze statues of Parvarti and Shiva Nataraja (the Hindu god, who is a divine dancer, and is depicted here standing on a baby), their baby Ganesh, and Sivakamasundari.
The exhibition goes into detail about three great kings of Sri Lanka and the civilisation, education, and religion that they brought to the people in the area of Polonnaruwa.
Today, visitors can enjoy the museum as an accompaniment to the entire Archaeological Site, which includes hundreds of thousand-year-old monuments – tombs and temples, stupas and statues – in amongst a sprawling forested area.
It is worth hiring a local guide for a more through level of detail and knowledge of the whole area, and taking a map of the whole World Heritage Site from the front desk of the museum to help guide you through the whole Archaeological Site is also recommended.
It is fascinating to consider that barely 5% of the old city has been excavated, and yet, between the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum and the Archaeological Sites themselves, there is still a huge amount to see.
From the capital city Colombo, Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum is reachable in around 4 and a half hours by car, via the Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomalee Hwy/Ambepussa – Trincomalee Hwy/Colombo Rd/Kandy Rd/A6 roads.
From within Polonnaruwa itself, the museum is a 30 minute walk via Maradankadawala-Habarana-Thirukkondaiadimadu Hwy/A11, or around 5 minutes by car via the A11.
For those who wish to deepen their knowledge of this historical period and its monuments, a particular highlight is Lankatilaka Vihara, an ancient and sacred Buddhist temple, which is a 5 minute drive and 45 minute walk from Polonnaruwa.
]]>The city of Polonnaruwa was established by the Chola dynasty as their new capital in the 10th century. The Chola Dynasty was a Tamil empire of southern India and one of the world’s longest-ruling dynasties, who undertook destruction of the Buddhist civilisation in northern Sri Lanka. Chola ruled ended in 1070, after which Polonnaruwa was captured by King Vijayabahu I.
Under the 1153-1186 rule of Vijayabahu’s grandson, Parakramabahu the Great, trade and agriculture flourished. Irrigation systems were constructed that continue to serve the paddy fields nearby, and the kingdom was self-sufficient. The Council Chamber, the Raja Sabhawa in Sinhala, is located in front of the royal palace and was built for Parakramabahu as a meeting place for his ministers.
The Council chamber was built 75 feet long and 33 feet wide, and was designed in three tiers: the first lower level was decorated with elephants, the second with lions. The stone chamber’s pillars were decorated with carvings designed to impress, supporting a roof made of wood and clay tiles, and surrounding a throne where the king was seated. The acoustics were so good the king could hear his ministers from across the chamber.
The chamber’s steps were also decorated with two moon-stones, a unique feature of ancient Sinhalese architecture, symbolising the cycle of the endless Buddhist life cycle and emphasising Sri Lanka’s Buddhist identity after Polonnaruwa’s period of Chola rule.
The ancient Polonnaruwa Council Chamber stands testimony to the enduring presence of Sri Lanka’s early architecture. The fantastic condition of the ruins allows you to walk on the chamber’s main level among the remaining 48 pillars, bringing to life the ancient site’s grandiose design. Take a moment to stop and admire the large ornately carved lions at the top of the steps.
At the ruin, there is also a board in English showing a plan of the chambers. Be sure to hold onto your hat though, as the site is constantly visited by the local population of toque macaques.
These ancient ruins are situated within the new town of Polonnaruwa, so you can reach the Council Chambers on foot from the Clock Tower bus stop, route 48, 450m away. The chamber is also located off the A11, and there is plenty of parking in the nearby town.
]]>At its peak, the Polonnaruwa Royal Palace would have been a complex of buildings, some as high as seven storeys. What remains now are a pretty set of ruins, with some walls still standing.
Just south of the main palace, one can see the remains of the king’s audience hall and his bathing pools.
The Royal Palace, also known as the Vijayotpaya, is situated in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. It was built by King Parakramabahu the Great in the late 1100s, and would have been seven stories high, which would be as tall as the 7-story Equitable Life Building in New York, which was built in 1870.
This grandeur is reflected in its name, as the palace was originally called the ‘Palace of God Sakra’, which perhaps indicates that there was a need at the time to equate the King’s status with that of a god.
The basic floor plan of the Palace is similar to that of the 12th century Vijayabahu palace at Anuradhapura and the palaces at Panduvasnuvara and Yapahuwa. Today, there are three levels of bricks that remain with holes dotted an equidistance around, which would have likely been used for wooden beams that would have delineated the different floors.
The Mahavamsa – a epic poem and historical chronicle written in 5 AD in the Pali language – records that the palace had 1000 rooms. This seems unlikely. However, there is evidence that both rooms in the palace and buildings in the complex that surrounded it would have been used for rituals, entertainment, and storage, as well as lodgings for aides. There is evidence that the palace may have been destroyed by fire.
Today, visitors can enjoy the ruins of the Royal Palace, and imagine what it would have been like at the height of its grandeur.
It is recommended that visitors arrive at the palace early to avoid large crowds. It’s also advised that you don’t take pictures with your back turned to Buddha in order to avoid causing offence.
It’s a good idea to check out Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum before you visit any of the sites, as it displays artefacts and provides detailed context to the whole ancient city, which includes a scale model of the Polonnaruwa Council Chamber.
From the capital city Colombo, Polonnaruwa Royal Palace is reachable in around 4 and a half hours by car, via the Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Trincomalee Hwy/Ambepussa – Trincomalee Hwy/Colombo Rd/Kandy Rd/A6 roads.
The Palace itself is reachable from the centre of Polonnaruwa in around half an hour by foot, or around 5 minutes by car – though you won’t be allowed too close, as cars are banned at the site. It’s a good idea to rent a bicycle to quickly travel between the different sites, which you can do from the site itself.
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