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Polonnaruwa lies 216 km northeast
of Colombo, 140kms northeast of Kandy
and 104kms southeast of Anuradhapura.
Sri Lanka's medieval capital (11th
- 12th Century AD) is a well-preserved
city of ancient dagobas, moonstones,
beautiful parks, massive buildings
and stunningly beautiful statues.
The majestic King's Council Chamber,
the Lotus Bath, the Lanka Thilaka
Viharaya, the Gal Viharaya (rock temple)
and the statue of one of Polonnaruwa's
great kings, Parakramabahu, are a
few of this capital's memorable sights.
The Sea of Parakrama - a vast 12th
century man-made reservoir dominates
the city. Although it is nearly 1000
years old, it is much younger than
Anuradhapura, and in much better repair.
Moreover, the monuments here are located
in a more compact area, and their
development is easier to follow
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 Arugam
Bay, 3km (2 miles) south of the small fishing village
of Pottuvil, had a reputation as a surfer's paradise
before the area became unsafe due to incidents in
and around Pottuvil and on the roads leading to
it. It has long, empty beaches and a wide lagoon
which is a haven for numerous bird species. |
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 Gal
Oya covers 260km2 (100 sq miles) of scrub and open
country around an artificial reservoir, the Senanayake
Samudra (Senanayake Sea), named after Sri Lanka's
first post-independence prime minister. Formed in
the early 1950s by damming the Gal Oya River, which
flows out of the foothills to feed the lagoons south
of Batticaloa, the huge lake has a deeply indented
coastline, suitable for exploring and viewing game
by boat. Unfortunately it is closed until further
notice. |
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 About
16km (10 miles) west of Pottuvil, Lahugala was designated
as a national park mainly to provide a protected
corridor for elephant groups moving between the
larger reserves of Ruhuna (Yala), to the south,
and Gal Oya, to the north. In the dry season this
small park is reputed to have more elephants than
any other part of the country, attracted by the
grazing around the reservoirs within the park |
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NissankaLathamandapa
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