Polonnaruwa Ancient City
Polonnaruwa was the island’s second great capital in the medieval era (11th to 13th cen Ad) located in north central province of the country. It is 218km away from Colombo and midway on Colombo – Batticaloa highway. History of Polonnaruwa goes back to 6th Cen BC, same as Anuradhapura city. Polonnaruwa was a strategically important place for the Anuradhapura kings since it was in between Anuradhapura and down south of the country. In 10th centaury AD local kings lost their glory at Anuradhapura and shifted to Polonnaruwa. Then onward Polonnaruwa became the medieval capital of Sri Lanka .The reasons were, Anuradhapura was always targeted to the invaders and Polonnaruwa was prosperous with tanks and paddy cultivations. Though they settled at Polonnaruwa they were able to stay there only for two and half century. Again South Indian invaders attacked to Polonnaruwa kingdom and locals retreated to Dambadeniya, north western part of the country. During those two and half century there were three main dominating kings in Polonnaruwa kingdom. Those were king Vijayabahu 1(1055 – 1110 Ad), the person who united the country and established the kingdom in Polonnaruwa, king Parakramabahu 1 the great (1153 -1186 AD) and king Nissankamalla (1187 – 1196 AD). All the monuments we see today in Polonnaruwa have done by them.
The Polonnaruwa ancient city comprises with inner city and an outer city. The Citadel with king’s palace, Royal court, bathing ponds and other necessary compartment include in inner city. The temple of the tooth relic complex, other all Buddhist and Hindu shrines are there in outer city. Following are some important places of the sacred city.
Thuparamaya Image House
This shrine room is a brick build vaulted type building made in early period of Polonnaruwa (11th cen. AD). The main statue of the Buddha was a seated one made out of bricks now almost destroyed with the time. The ornamentation on the exterior walls reveals Dravidian influence on the construction of Buddhist monuments. Architectural models had been on the exterior walls hint at the grandeur of Polonnaruwa in heyday.
The temple of the Tooth Relic
Temple of the tooth relic of the Buddha is the place where the tooth of Buddha was enshrined. The tooth relic of Buddha was received to Sri Lanka in beginning of 4th Cen AD and was always with Sri Lankan kings. Later it became the palladium of Sinhala royalty and emblem of the king ship. So that, tooth relic was always moveable and placed in a special shrine room with close supervision of the king.
Hindu Shrine (siva dewalaya)
Not only the Buddhist shrines we can see in Polonnaruwa ancient site. But also the Hindu shrines .when south Indian invaded Anuradhapura kingdom, they did not stay at Anuradhapura and decided to settle in Polonnaruwa .Then they made some Hindu temples for their use in the area. The Hindu shrine room no 02 is a well preserved Hindu temple remaining in the site. This has been made by a Hindu king called Rajaraja 01 for his wife’s name. There had been lot of bronze sculpture found from this area during excavations.
The Rock Temple
The most impressive sculptures at Polonnaruwa are the colossal 04 Buddha’s images carved on the face of a granite boulder at the rock temple of north of the ancient site. The main statue is a recumbent statue of Buddha about 46 ft. length. 2nd one is a standing figure of the Buddha in an uncommon posture about 23fts height. There are two seating statues of Buddha in deep meditation posture. All four statues been carved out from a living rock about 50m length. According to the history this temple was made in 12th centaury AD by the 2nd king in Polonnaruwa period.
Rankoth Vehera
Rankoth vehera shrine is a large stupa (dome shape large monument made out of bricks) made during 12th cen AD. This is the largest stupa in Polonnaruwa. Stupa is a main component in a Buddhist temple made enshrining some relic of Buddha or something relating to the Buddha’s teaching. It is a solid construction made into a specific layout. There are four entrances, from main cardinal points making access for devotees to come into the premises. The height of the stupa is 55m.
Polonnaruwa Museum
The museum and information centre of Polonnaruwa cultural site is one of the best in Sri Lankan site museums. This museum has been organized in a novel method encompassing the whole field of the ancient city. So that the visitor first coming to the museum will have a brief introduction to the monuments that he would see in the field. The explanatory notes given in all three languages (Sinhala, English and Tamil) will no doubt provide a rewarding knowledge of the history and archaeology of ancient Polonnaruwa.
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya
Palace of king Parakramabahu I
The main monument in the area is king Parakramabahu’s palace made in 12th century AD, almost 800 years ago. This was named as “Vaijanthiprasada” which named for chief of the gods palace in heaven. According to the Chronicles, this was seven storied, having thousand rooms. Even its ruined state it suggests that it must have been a storied building of considerable size. Central courtyard is the main place with massive brick walls. The walls now conserved up to a height of two storied. The superstructure made out of wooden, been destroyed due to invasions and the time.
Alahana Pirivena (Monastery)
Monastery is the place where Buddhist monks learn the Buddhism. Alahana Pirivena monastery was the largest monastery residing thousands of monks in 12th Cen AD during polonnaruwa period. This monastery complex has been nominated as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1982 for the historical value of the place. The site consisting of valuable edifices such as chapter house, monk living quarters, stupa, shrine rooms, hospitals and bathing ponds for the monks. The main icon is Baddhasima pasada, the place where Buddhist monks had their all administrations and accommodations for monks. History says that this building was with 12 storied at that time.