(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Isolated from the cluster of ruins of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom, the ruins of Siva Kovil No. 4 lie 1 km before the turn-off to the entrance to the ancient citadel of Polonnaruwa travelling from Giritale. The kovil is today trapped between 2 roads, the main Giritale Road and Hingurakgoda Road. The ruins are visible from both roads, but accessible only through the Hingurakgoda road.
It is believed that this Siva Kovil was built during the period of South Indian Chola invaders who ruled from Polonnaruwa (1017-1070) or in the 13th century. Only the stone pillars of this temple remain today. In addition, there is a simple moonstone carved with lotus petals in excellent condition.
However, a 56.5 cm high bronze statue of goddess Parvati has been discovered at this site and now lies in the Colombo National Museum. This statue of Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Siva holds a lotus bud in her right hand and the left holds down showing the posture of lolahastha. The goddess stands in a relaxed posture dressed in a half dhoti usual to a dress of a female goddess of the period and wears a conical crown. (karandamakuta). On her body, she wears necklaces, armlets, bracelets and anklets. This sculpture is said to represent one of the best representations of the goddess Parvathi indicating a meditative mood with half-closed eyes and a faint smile.
Hindu Shrines Discovered in the Ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom
- Siva Kovil No. 1
- Siva Kovil No. 2
- Siva Kovil No. 3
- Siva Kovil No. 4
- Siva Kovil No. 5 (Naipena Viharaya)
- Siva Kovil No. 7
- Vishnu Kovil No. 2
- Vishnu Kovil No. 3
- Vishnu Kovil No. 4 (Naipena Viharaya)
- Ganesh Kovil
References
- Silva, R. et al. (2007) History and Archaeology of Sri Lanka Volume II – The Art and Archaeology of Sri Lanka I – . Padukka, Sri Lanka: Central Cultural Fund.
Also See
Map
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 ancient royal 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: 5 hours Driving Directions: See on Google Maps. | Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time: 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps. |
| 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 Maps. | Through: Maradankadawala–Habarana Distance: 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps. |
0-09 m (89) 10-19 m (77) 20-29 m (47) 30-39 m (50) 40-49 m (25) 50-99 m (50) Ambalama (176) Ancient Anicuts (35) Articles (0) Asanaghara (8) Ashtapala Bodhi (5) Attraction Articles (3) Attractions (266) Beaches (10) Biosphere Reserves (3) Botanical Gardens (5) Bridges (35) Cave Art (13) Caving (7) Churches (30) Cities (9) Destinations (18) Dethis Pala Bodhi (27) Devalaya (51) Events (3) Flora and Fauna (82) Forts (52) Heritage (1918) Heritage Articles (27) Historic Events (7) History (7) Hot Springs (9) Hydro Heritage (104) Irrigation Articles (4) Islands (15) Kings of Sri Lanka (188) Kovils (29) Kuludage (11) Lighthouses (29) Memorials (57) Mile Posts (6) Misc (1) Mosques (4) Museums (15) National Parks (24) over 100 m (20) Pabbatha Vihara (13) Padhanagara (27) Personalities (211) Pillar/Slab Inscriptions (48) Popular Tourist Attractions (231) Pre Historic Burial Sites (22) Prehistory (42) Prehistory Articles (2) RAMSAR sites (6) Ravana (16) Reservoirs (72) Rock Inscriptions (36) Ruins in Wilpattu (11) Ruins in Yala (25) Santuaries (7) Sluice Gates (17) Stone Bridges (18) Strict Nature Reserves (3) Sumaithangi (3) Survey Towers (18) Tampita Vihara (242) Travel (5) View Points (24) Walawwa (13) War Memorials (26) Waterfalls (380) Wildlife Articles (28) Yathuru Pokuna (4)
Abhayagiri Monastery (20) Ampara District (196) Anuradhapura District (240) Badulla District (123) Batticaloa District (86) Colombo District (123) Galle District (76) Gampaha District (63) Hambantota District (124) Jaffna District (77) Kalutara District (53) Kandy District (217) Kegalle District (165) Kilinochchi District (13) Kingdom of Anuradhapura (88) Kingdom of Kandy (19) Kingdom of Kotte (9) Kingdom of Polonnaruwa (58) Kurunegala District (183) Maha Vihara (18) Mannar District (47) Mannar Island (10) Matale District (94) Matara District (53) Mihintale (22) Monaragala District (113) Mullaitivu District (39) Negombo (5) Nuwara Eliya District (126) Polonnaruwa District (138) Puttalam District (43) Ratnapura District (177) Trincomalee District (80) Vavuniya District (34) waterfalls in Sinharaja (3) z Delft 1 (5) z Jaffna 1 (20) z Jaffna 2 (26) z Jaffna 3 (14)