Siva Devale No. 7 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom (ශිව දේවාලය අංක 7)

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Siva Devale No. 7 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

This Siva Devalaya (Kovil) is one of the many small Siva Kovils which are found scattered around the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Siva Kovil marked as Siva Devale No. 7 lies just 100 before the northern exit from the inner city on the left of the road. This site lies a few meters into the tree line thus not distinguishable from all other ruined walls of buildings which lie all over the inner city of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom.

The Cola occupation of the country during the period 1017-1070 CE saw the establishment of many shrines dedicated to the worship of godheads of the Hindu Pantheon. Polonnaruwa having been their centre of administration for several decades, most of these shrines were founded within the capital itself.

At least fourteen ruined monuments of this category were discovered by Bell during the first decade of the twentieth century. Recent excavations have exposed one more brick built devale in the Alahana Pirivena complex. It is possible that some of these monuments were founded in the thirteenth century when yet another wave of invasion took place under Magha of Kaliga which ultimately saw the fall of the Polonnaruwa kingdom.

Siva Devale No. 7 was built using bricks and only the lower portions of the wall have been restored. The builder or the period in which the Siva Kovil was constructed is not known. But the Siva Lingam made of stone is kept on a stone slab which bears an inscription of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196). Therefore it is presumed that this Kovil would have been built during the 13^thcentury.

Hindu Shrines Discovered in the Ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom

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Map of Siva Devale No. 7 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

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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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