Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

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The Birth of Polonnaruwa

The history of Polonnaruwa goes as far back as the 6th century BCE when a minister of the king Vijaya (From whom the Sinhalese race was born) established a town called “Vijitha Grama” in the area now called Kaduruwela. This is also the place for the famous “Battle of Vijithapura” between the Great King Dutugamunu (161-131 BCE) and the Tamil invader Elara in his effort to reunite the country under one Sinhalese King. This area was gradually developed as an influential agricultural town with large irrigation tanks and complex waterways built by various kings who ruled from Anuradhapura.

The selection of Polonnaruwa as the capital was not a random choice by the invaders but a strategic choice. Polonnaruwa was developed to be the next kingdom by the Sri Lankan kings from the fifth century BC itself and even during the Anuradhapura era some kings chose this area to rule from whenever the Anuradhapura was under siege.`

Anuradhapura was the first kingdom in Sri Lanka and lasted for over 15 centuries from the 4th century BC. The last king of Anuradhapura was the king Mahinda V who was captured by Chola Invaders from South India in 993 and took him prisoner and was taken to India. Later he died in India itself. The Chola Invaders destroyed everything in Anuradhapura and took their ruling capital to Polonnaruwa in 1017 which they called “Jananathapuram”. During this period most of the Sinhalese in these areas migrated to the south to escape the cruelties of this Tamil ruler. After the death of King Mahinda in 1029 in India, the Sinhalese started a definite revolution starting from the South. This revolt was headed by the youngest son of King Mahinda who died unexpectedly. Ten years later a prince by the name of Keerthi made the final attack on Polonnaruwa in 1070 and defeated the “Soli” king who reigned the area for almost 75 years. He held his consecration in Anuradhapura as King Vijayabahu (see The Royal Palace of King Vijayabahu I in Anuradhapura) and made his ruling capital Polonnaruwa.

Map of Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

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Driving Directions to Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

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 : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google map
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Through : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: See on Google map	Through : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google map

Places of Interest in the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa ( view in alphabetical order )

Other Historical Sites around Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

Other Sites in and Around Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa

A chronological list of rulers in Ancient Kingdom of Polonnaruwa [For a full list click here]

“Chola” Invaders	South Indian invaders	1017-1070
Vijayabahu I		1070-1110
Jayabahu I	Younger brother of Vijayabahu I	1110-1111
Wickramabahu I	Son of Vijayabahu I	1111-1132
Gajabahu II		1132-1159
Parakramabahu I	The father of Parakramabahu , Manabharana was the son of Mitta, who was the sister of Vijayabahu I The mother of Parakramabahu was Rathnavali who was a daughter of Vijayabahu	1153-1186
Vijayabahu II	Son of Parakramabahu’s sister	1186-1187
Nissanka Malla	The father of Parakramabahu, Manabharana was the son of Mitta, who was the sister of Vijayabahu I The mother of Parakramabahu was Rathnavali who was a daughter of Vijayabahu	1187-1196
Wickramabahu II	Son of Nissanka Malla	1196
Choda Ganga	A nephew of Nissanka Malla	1196-1197
Queen Leelavathi	Wife of Parakramabahu I	1197-1200
Sahasa Malla	Came from the Kalinga kingdom in India	1200-1202
Queen Kalyanavathi	Second wife of Nissanka Malla	1202-1208
Dharmashoka	Was made the king at the age of three months	1208-1209
Anikanga Mahadipada	Ruled the country for 17 days	1209
Queen Leelavathi (restored)		1209-1210
Lokeshwara	Invader from Kalinga kingdom in India	1210-1211
Queen Leelavathi (restored)		1211-1212
Parakramabahu Pandu	A relation of Nissanka Malla who came from the Kalinga kingdom in India	1212-1215
Magha	Invader from the Kalinga kingdom in India	1215-1236

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Degaldoruwa Pitiye Devale (දෙගල්දෝරුව පිටියේ දේවාලය)
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Tissamaharama Uduvila Gangarama Viharaya (තිස්සමහාරාම උඩුවිල ගංගාරාම විහාරය)
Despite the Uduvila Gangarama Viharaya temple's recent developments, there are still a few relics of the monastic complex from the Pre-Christian era. Near the stupa, you'll find a cluster of undressed stone pillars that once supported an ancient building. Additionally, the top portion of a massive Yupa Gala, and Gal Chatra is found nearby […]
Archaeological Ruins at Tissamaharama Poththewelagala Aranya Senasanaya (පොත්තේවෙලගල ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසනය)
The Poththewelagala Ruins are located in a scrub jungle, 2 kilometers southeast of Tissamaharama. The site can be reached from a gravel road 3.3 km down the Kirinda-Sithulpawwa Road. A black archaeology board by the roadside marks the direction of this gravel road. After driving 1 kilometre along this road and passing a model village, you will arrive at the ruins. […]
Tissamaharama Uddhakandara Rajamaha Viharaya (උද්ධකන්දර රජමහා විහාරය)
Uddhakandara Rajamaha Viharaya is a new temple in Tissamaharama built on an ancient monastic site going back to the pre-Christian era. The original temple is believed to have been built by regional king Mahanaga, the brother of King Devanmpiyatissa (250-210 BCE) who fled the Anuradhapura kingdom. […]
Thambarawa Wewa & Pre Historic Burial Site (තඹරව වැව හා ප්‍රාග් ඓතිහාසික සුසාන භූමිය)
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Handapangala Wewa Reservoir (හඳපානාගල වැව ජලාශය)
Handapangala Wewa is a picturesque and peaceful haven located in the Wellawaya area popular among the travellers and photographers for the abundant elephants in the area especially during the dry season. The bund of the Handapanagala Wewa is 3600 feet (1.1 km) long and 19 feet (5.8 m) high. At full capacity, the water covers 450 acres and holds 5000 acre feet. […]
Empilipitiya Chandrika Wewa Reservoir (ඇඹිලිපිටිය චන්ද්‍රිකා වැව ජලාශය)
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Udawalawe Reservoir and the Dam (උඩවලවේ ජලාශය සහ වේල්ල)
The Udawalawe Reservoir, located in the Ratnapura and Hambantota Districts of Sri Lanka, is one of the country's largest and most significant water bodies. It was constructed in 1963, primarily to support agriculture and irrigation in the surrounding regions, which include Udawalawe, Embilipitiya, and Hambantota. […]
Hurulu Wewa Reservoir (හුරුළු වැව)
Hurulu Wewa ancient reservoir, originally known as Challura Vapi, was one of sixteen reservoirs constructed by King Mahasen, the renowned Sinhalese monarch who ruled over Lanka from 276 to 303 CE. The reservoir lies on Yan Oya in the remote village of Yakalla, between Anuradhapura and Habarana off Ritigala. […]
List of Adhigars of the Kandyan Kingdom (උඩරට රාජධානියේ අධිකාරම්වරු)
The title of Adhigar (Adigar) in the Kandyan Kingdom of Sri Lanka referred to a high-ranking official or noble who held significant administrative and judicial authority. In Sinhala, he is called the Adhikaram. The position was one of the most powerful in the Kandyan court, second only to the king himself. Adhigars were entrusted with overseeing various aspects of governance, including implementing laws, administering justice, and managing royal affairs. […]
Diyawadana Nilames of Kandy Dalada Maligawa
Diyawadana Nilame’ has the custody of the key to the first casket out of the seven golden caskets where the Sacred Tooth Relic is enshrined, as he is the lay custodian of the Sacred Tooth Relic. This position is recorded in the ‘Dathuwansa’, the chronicle of tooth relic, as ‘Dhathurakkadikari’. […]
Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya (වෙඬරුව කිරිවෙහෙර රජමහා විහාරය)
The image house of Wendaruwa Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya is a rectangular Kandyan-style building with a verandah supported by 16 evenly spaced wooden pillars. The pillars are carved with alternating square and cylindrical sections, though these sections are plain and lack any decorative design. The pillars rest on a wooden frame constructed with large wooden beams placed atop the half-height outer wall of the image house. […]
Dimbulagala Dewagala Archaeological Ruins (දේවගල පුරාවිද්‍යා භූමිය)
These ruins are scattered across a rocky hill that stretches approximately 800 meters from north to south. The hill is surrounded on all sides by farmland. An irrigation canal and a paved road run along the eastern slope, making the western slopes the most accessible route to approach the rock by a vehicle. […]
Yoda Wewa at Tissamaharama (තිස්සමහාරාම යෝධ වැව)
It is believed that this tank was built by King Mahanaga in the late 3rd Century BC and the Duratissa Wewa mentioned in the ancient texts is the current Yodha Wewa in Tissamaharama. […]
Tissamaharama Tissa Wewa: The First Oblique Dam in the World (තිස්සමහාරාම තිස්ස වැව)
The Tissa Wewa is one of the largest ancient irrigation tanks constructed the 3rd Century is considered the first Oblique Dam in the world […]
Pavatkulama (Pavakkulama) Reservoir in Vavuniya (වව්නියාවේ පාවක්කුලම වැව)
Pavakkulama Reservoir is the largest ancient reservoir found in Vavuniya district. According to a notice board installed by the Irrigation Department, Its embankment is 10,364 feet (3.2 km) long and has a gross capacity of 27,000 acre feet (33 million cubic meters). […]
Tissa Wewa Reservoir in Anuradhapura (අනුරාධපුර තිසා වැව)
Tissa Wewa was built by King Devanampiya Tissa.(250-210 BC). The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 11,000 feet long (Two miles) and 25 feet high.Tissa Wewa has an area of approximately 550 acres. […]
Basawakkulama Wewa (Abhaya Wewa) – First Reservoir to Be in the Recorded History of Sri Lanka (බසවක්කුලම වැව)
Basawakkulama Wewa First Reservoir to be in the recorded history of Sri Lanka today carries 174 hectares of water at the surface even after 2500 years, the tank still continue to supply water to Anuradhapura. […]
Sri Nagala Rajamaha Viharaya at Nikawewa (නිකවැව ශ්‍රී නාගල රජමහා විහාරය)
Lying amidst rows of coconut groves close to the Nugawela junction on the Chilaw Wariyapola Road lies Kadawalagedara Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya […]
Seruwila Raja Maha Viharaya (සේරුවිල මගුල් මහා විහාරය)
A greater part of the Dhatuvansa is devoted to the history of the relics deposited in the Seruwila Dagaba, and to an account of its erection, and the ceremonies held in connection with it. It was constructed by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BCE enshrining the forehead bone relic (lalata dhatu) and a hair relic of Buddha. […]
Somawathi Rajamaha Viharaya (සෝමාවතී චෛත්‍යය)
The miraculous Somawathiya (Somawathi Chethiya) was built in 2nd century BC enshrining the right tooth relic of Buddha. The only other tooth relic lies in Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. […]
Debarawewa Yatala Vehera
Yatala Vehera is believed to be built by regional king Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC on the grounds which his queen delivered a son. […]
Tissamaharama Rajamaha Viharaya (තිස්සමහාරාම විහාරය)
This massive Tissamaharama Stupa (Tissamaharamaya) is believed to be built by King Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC or King Kavanthissa in the 1st century BC and is the largest stupa in the ancient southern kingdom. […]
Eth Vehera Stupa in Mihintale Monastery (ඇත් වෙහෙර)
The climb along the long flight of steps leading to its summit of Eth Vehera is a rewarding experience. The narrow steps winding its way upwards makes art in its very simplicity. […]
Ambastala Dagaba (Sela Chethiya) and the Vatadage (අම්බස්තල දාගැබ)
Climbing up the 1,840 steps of Mihintale, this is the first relic which comes to view once you reach the upper terrace of Mihintale Complex. Ambastala Dagaba (also called Sela Chethiya) believed to be built by by King Mahadatika Mahanaga (09-21 AC) on the exact place where the great Mahinda Thero met the King Devanampiyatissa. […]