A 14-metre-long reclining Buddha is one of the four statues carved from a granite rock face at Gal Vihara. This monumental rock art offers a striking introduction to Polonnaruwa’s religious history—and is just one of several ways to explore the city’s past.
Rock Art and Religious Sites
Gal Vihara comprises four Buddha statues, including the 14-metre-long reclining Buddha. Each of the other religious sites highlights a different aspect: Dalada Maluwa, also called the Quadrangle, was the sacred precinct of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and the centre of its most important complex of religious shrines. The name Quadrangle refers to the same place, not to another site.
At the Lankatilaka Image House, the walls are 16 metres high and enclose a headless Buddha statue. Alahana Pirivena was developed as a large Buddhist university, where thousands of Buddhist monks were trained at the time. Together, these places reveal different facets of religious architecture and education in the ancient city: a rock face with carved statues, a sacred precinct, an image house and a large centre of learning.
The Polonnaruwa Museum also adds to the picture of the archaeological site. Its exhibits include Chola bronzes recovered there. The museum is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is included in the Polonnaruwa ticket. Check the opening hours before your visit.
National Parks and Nature
Minneriya National Park covers 8,889.411 hectares in the Hingurakgoda Divisional Secretariat Division of Polonnaruwa District. Surveys in the park have recorded 24 mammal, 160 bird, 25 reptile, 26 fish and 75 butterfly species. These figures offer an overview of the different animal groups recorded in the protected area.
In the wider destination of the North Central Province, the elephant gathering at Minneriya National Park is associated with the period from May to October. During the dry season, falling reservoir water levels expose grass along the banks; the timing may vary depending on rainfall. This seasonal context offers a different perspective on Minneriya than the species figures: here, the focus is on changes over the course of the year and around the reservoir.
Kaudulla National Park covers 6,900 hectares and is located in the Medirigiriya and Hingurakgoda Divisional Secretariat Areas of Polonnaruwa District. Wasgamuwa National Park is located partly in Polonnaruwa District and is ecologically and biodiversely significant. It is known as a place to observe bears. Remains of the Kalinga Yoda Ela, Malagamuwa, Wilmitiya and Dastota canals are also preserved there. Their construction is believed to date to the reign of King Parakramabahu I, from 1153 to 1186.
The Polonnaruwa–Batticaloa road leads to Maduru Oya National Park, which lies partly in Polonnaruwa District. Check local road conditions before setting out. A hot spring in the park’s Kivlaella area is a well-known tourist attraction.
Polonnaruwa in Historical Context
The wider destination of the North Central Province places Polonnaruwa within a longer historical sequence. Anuradhapura was Ceylon’s political and religious capital for 1,300 years and was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Following Anuradhapura’s destruction that same year, Polonnaruwa became Sri Lanka’s second capital. This regional history complements the specific impressions of Polonnaruwa: the local sites bring religious art, shrines and education to life, while the succession of capitals provides the broader historical context.
When choosing what to focus on, two distinct themes stand out: the religious buildings and artworks of the ancient city, or the national parks with their species, landscapes and historic canals. For Minneriya, the seasonal context of the elephant gathering offers an additional point of reference.
Discover more destinations: Patthini Pedesa, Polonnaruwa, Minneriya, Anuradhapura.
Return to the wider travel overview: North Central Province.
