ancient ruins
Sigiriya Lion Rock
A 5th-century fortress atop a 200-meter rock column with ancient frescoes, mirror walls, and landscaped gardens below.
27 km · about 30 min drive
AsiaSri LankaNorth Central Province
Polonnaruwa
North Central Province, Sri Lanka · Asia
About Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Sigiriya, 27km from Sigiriya Lion Rock.
Polonnaruwa is in North Central Province, Sri Lanka, with about 14,000 people. The nearest town is Sigiriya, about 28 km away.
Poḷonnaruwa, (Sinhala: පොළොන්නරුව, romanized: Poḷonnaruva; Tamil: பொலன்னறுவை, romanized: Polaṉṉaṟuvai) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and theRead more
other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
The second-oldest of all Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first established as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. It was renamed Jananathamangalam by the Chola dynasty after their successful invasion of the country's then capital, Anuradhapura, in the 10th century. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Polonnaruwa?
Within an hour or so of Polonnaruwa: Sigiriya Lion Rock (27 km), Pidurangala Rock (27 km), Dambulla Cave Temple (40 km).
Where is Polonnaruwa?
Polonnaruwa is in North Central Province, Sri Lanka, about 28 km from Sigiriya.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 13,900
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Region
- North Central Province
- Timezone
- Asia/Colombo
- Coordinates
- 7.9397, 81.0027
Tags
Worth the detour from Polonnaruwa
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
photogenic
Pidurangala Rock
A granite outcrop with an ancient cave monastery and reclining Buddha, reached by a short scramble. It gives the one view Sigiriya itself cannot: the Lion Rock standing whole above the plain at sunrise.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Dambulla Cave Temple
Five caves cut into a 160 m rock face, painted and filled with over 150 Buddha statues across two millennia of continuous use, the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.
40 km · about 45 min drive
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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