In the north center of Sri Lanka, set amidst dry plains and ancient reservoirs, this quiet town of around 20,000, a six-hour drive from Colombo, was the island’s capital from the 11th to 13th century and represents the pinnacle of Sinhalese civilization after the fall of Anuradhapura. Today, Polonnaruwa has a tranquil, almost timeless feel, with wide-open landscapes dotted by remarkably preserved ruins. Highlights include an archaeological park including the ruins of the royal palace, the Vatadage Buddhist shrine (above); the Gal Vihara, a series of serene stone Buddha figures carved into a single granite face; alongside it is the vast Parakrama Samudra, vast man-made lake created in the 12th century by linking several reservoirs and it functioning as an advanced irrigation system that supported agriculture in the dry zone in which the town is located.
Read more in Tripatini contributor Travel Guide´s post Stupendous Sri Lanka and 7 of its Top Destinations.
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