Polonnaruwa

The island's capital in the 11th and 12th centuries, now a compact UNESCO site best seen by bicycle: the royal palace and council chamber, the circular Vatadage, the Gal Vihara's four great Buddhas carved into one granite face, and the vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir. Smaller and easier than Anuradhapura, and an hour from Sigiriya. The site also has Hindu Shiva temples (Shiva Devale No. 1 and 2) from the Chola period.

Highlights

• Gal Vihara rock-cut Buddhas
• Vatadage and the Quadrangle
• Cycle round the ancient city
• Royal Palace and Council Chamber
• Chola-era Shiva temples
• Sunset over Parakrama Samudra
• Museum at the entrance

Things to do

• Cycle the ancient city (Quadrangle, Vatadage, Gal Vihara)Morning · 4h
• Archaeological museumAfternoon · 1h
• Sunset at Parakrama SamudraEvening · 1h

Tours & tickets

When to go

Best time: January – September

• Vesak — The full moon of the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing: towns hang paper lanterns and lit pandals (thoran) telling Jataka stories, and roadside dansal stalls give free food and drinks to everyone. Colombo's lights round Beira Lake and Gangaramaya are the most elaborate. Alcohol sales stop and slaughterhouses close for the Vesak week; it also ends the Adam's Peak pilgrimage season.
• Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Aluth Avurudu / Puthandu) — The national new year, at the auspicious times astrologers set: families go home, many shops, restaurants and buses stop for two or three days around 13-14 April, and trains and buses before and after are packed. Nuwara Eliya has its season of races and shows round it.

Part of a longer route

Polonnaruwa is a stop on a curated circuit through Sri Lanka.