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Polonnaruwa - Culture |
Polonnaruwa
is the island's medieval capital. The remains of the ancient lakeside city of
Polonnaruwa, date mostly from the reign of the Indian Chola dynasty in the 11th
and 12th century.
The town contains numerous temples and other Buddhist structures. The monuments and ruins are situated in a lovely tropical area, surrounded by paddy fields and jungle. Many of the buildings and constructions are in a very good state of preservation. One remarkable feature at Polonnaruwa is that its secular aspect was not so thoroughly and completely overshadowed by religious establishments.
Gal Vihara, a group of monumental Buddha statues, belongs to the most famous
periods of Singhalese sculptural achievements.
With its three eloquent rock-cut images, Gal Vihara is one of the most evocative
shrines in Sri Lanka.
Other interesting works are the striking stone Polonnaruwa is, as you can see now, is one of the most relaxing places to go in Sri Lanka colossus, believed to be an image of King Parakrama Bahu the Great and the lovely Lotus Bath - cut out in granite in the shape of a stylised sunken lotus, in five concentric layers.
A unique irrigation complex known as the sea of Parakrama watered the city
itself, as well as the surrounding plain. This largest of the man made
reservoirs, the huge Parakrama Samudra, is larger in size than the Colombo
harbour.
Polonnaruwa was a fortified city. What is now known in Polonnaruwa as the Royal Citadel was the fortified portion of the inner city within which the palace and other royal establishments were located.
The architectural remains of the royal palaces and other establishments are very
imposing and occupy a prominent position among the excavated ruins.
The Atadage, Vatadage (one of the
oldest monuments in the city) and Hatadage, three of the first and
imposing monuments of Polonnaruwa were presumably designed as temples for
enshrining the Tooth Relic by different kings.
A monastic complex of large proportions completed by Parakrambahu I, the Alahana
Parivena, includes within its precincts the monumental stupa now known as the
Kirivehera – it is the best preserved of all Sri Lanka's un-restored dagabas.
Polonnaruwa is one of the most relaxing places to go in Sri Lanka.
