Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa considered as the second ancient capital of the Sri Lanka. It became capital city after the Anuradapura era. Polonnaruwa located in 100 kilometers away from Anuradapura and 216 km away from Colombo. Polonnaruwa had been prominence as the capital city of the Sri Lanka for 300 years. Lot of Buddhist structures were built at these years. When compare with Anuradapura, Polonnaruwa is small in size but those structures are significant as well as Anuradapura. 

In the 13^th century Polonnaruwa became instability with the power because south Indians called “chola” attracked to kingdom. Meanwhile this incident, civil war was started, and lot of budhist temples destroyed because of war. After that subsequent kings gradually moved their capital toward south west part of Sri Lanka.

The Sea of Parakrama

This is a huge tank which constructed during the King Parakramabahu in the late 12^th centuries for the purpose of irrigation and drinking. This tank can be describe as Hugh tank or it more like as inland ocean. Tank covered more than 20 square kilometers and it consists with three huge waterfalls for transmission of water. According to the present figures more than 72 square km of paddy fields irrigates by using water of this tank. There is a statue near the tank which is believed it represent King Parakramabahu. 

The Gal Viharaya

Gal Viharaya is famous among Buddhist peoples around the world, because this temple have four Buddha statues which are made by stone (rock) according to the showing the characteristics of Buddha, such as kindness. Those four images are covered by from the face of the single rock. One of the image is represent the standing posture of the Buddha , two statues are represent the seated posture and other image represent the reclining. These images provides evidence for the skills of ancient stonemason of Sri Lanka.