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Nelum Pokuna III (Lotus Pond III) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom (නෙලුම් පොකුණ III)

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newly discovered ruins of Nelum Pokuna III(Lotus Pond III) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom (නෙලුම් පොකුණ III)

Polonnaruwa was the 2^nd major kingdom of Sri Lanka which lasted from the 11th to 13th century. Scattered among the ruins of the kingdom, lies several granite ponds out of which the Kumara Pokuna and the Nelum Pokuna (Lotus Pond) are the most popular and frequented by all visitors to this ancient kingdom.

Mahawamsa, the great Chronicle of Sri Lanka, speaks of 8 lotus-shaped ponds which were built by King Parakramabahu. Some of these ponds have been discovered hidden in the jungle, buried in time. Department of Archaeology started restoration work on 2 more Lotus Ponds in 2019. They are named “Lotus Pond II” and “Lotus Pond III”.

Two more of these Lotus Ponds were discovered buried and hidden in the jungles of the Laksha Uyana reservation in Polonnaruwa. These have been respectively named “Lotus Pond II” (Nelum Pokuna II) and “Lotus Pond III” (Nelum Pokuna III).

“Lotus Pond II” (Nelum Pokuna II) and “Lotus Pond III” (Nelum Pokuna III) lie 1km and 850 meters respectively north of the better known 8 petal Lotus Pond near Tiwanka Pilima Ge. The Lotus Pond III was found buried underground and the stone petals were widely scattered. Excavations of this pond started in 2019 by the Department of Archaeology.

There are no directions or marked roads to this site. However, you can find these ruins following the Google map below.

Also See

Map of Nelum Pokuna III (Lotus Pond III ) at the Ancient Capital of Polonnaruwa

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Polonnaruwa Sacred City

The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and the other part of Polonnaruwa remains the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

Route from Colombo to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Kandy to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through : Central Highway – Kurunegala – Dambulla Distance from Colombo :230 km Travel Time : 4.45 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana Distance : 140 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Though : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance : 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Though : Chenkaladi – Valachchena Distance : 97 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map

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Also See

Map of Nelum Pokuna III (Lotus Pond III ) at the Ancient Capital of Polonnaruwa

Driving Directions to Polonnaruwa Sacred City

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