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The Royal bath of Nissaka Malla which is opened to the pond is complete with a changing room. Completely built of stone blocks, there are 4 stone cut steps to get down to the changing area. From there you could just walk in to the pond.
Hidden between Rankoth Vehera and Menik Vehera, Kasuprad Parivena is a small monastery which is not visited by any pilgrim believed to be built by king Kassapa V (aka Abhaya Salamevan) who reigned from the Anuradhapura kingdom between 914-923 CE.
Access to these ruins are not easy even though it lies just by the main road. An electrified fence runs along this road separating the ruins and the road to stop wild elephants who comes to the reservoir coming to the town.
This Siva Devalaya (Kovil) 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 few meters in to the tree line thus not distinguable from all other ruined walls of buildings which lies all over the inner city of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom.
It is believed that this Siva Kovil has been built during the period of South Indian Chola invaders who ruled from Polonnaruwa (1017-1070) or on the 13th century. Only the stone pillars and a simple moonstone carved with lotus petals in excellent condition.
On the eastern edge of the the vast Parakrama Samudraya lies the remains of two summer palaces believed to be built by Parakramabahu I on two small islets which are connected to mainland during dry seasons. One lies very close Deepa Uyana, the other 500 meters inwards adjoining another edge of the reservoir is a larger summer palace.
This Summer Palace is built on a platform built in 3 levels. Generally this structure is submerged upto the 2nd level of the platform. However during prolonged dry periods, the water levels recedes and sometimes connects to the mainland. There are remains of some of the walls and steps of this palace in addition to the base platform even after 850+ years.
On the east to the Badda Sema Malakaya you can see a cave with a carved statue of Buddha. This known as the Kuda Gal Viharaya or the lesser rock temple.
The ruins of the Kaduruwela Fort belonging the pre christian era was discovered in 1979 and excavated in 2010. Based on the dating this is now believed to be the famed Vijithapura Fort.
The ruins identified as the “19th post ruins” on a regular archaeological board lies between Polonnaruwa and Kaduruwela, about 1.7 km from the Polonnaruwa clock tower.
This large stupa known as the Kiri Vehera of Polonnaruwa, lying north of Lankathilaka Pilima Ge is said to be built by a queen of king Parakramabahu (1153-1186) called “Subadra”.
Lying inside the inner city with the Palace Complex, passing the Royal Court of King Parakramabahu you can reach this Kumara Pokuna pond made out of stone slabs. This tank has been used during the period of King Parakramabahu ( 1153-1186).
Giritale Wewa does not aspire to No. 1 and No. 2 nor (may be) to subsequent reservoirs, by way of the area covered, leaving those priority places to reservoirs as Minneriya Wewa and Parakrama Samudra but if one were to give it a priority place by way of fabled history that could turn out to be factual too, Giritale Wewa comes somewhere among the top.
Dimbulagala is also noted for having being made the abode of Kuththagaththatissa, an Arahat who attended the writing down of the scripture at Aluvihare Matale along with five hundred Bhikkus. Hearing this King Valagamba patronised Dimbulagala, by maintaining the caves, erecting flower ponds, fruit gardens and Viharas for the monks and offered to the Bhikkus land, fields and villages.
Pothgul Vehera of the ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom is located some distance from the statue and thought to be a Buddhist library complex and a place where the Buddhist writings were studied and resided.
The history Polonnaruwa goes as far as 6th century BC when a minister of the king Vijaya (From whom the Sinhalese race was born) established a town called “Vijitha Grama” on the area now called Kaduruwela. This is also the place for the famous “Battle of Vijithapura” between the Great King Dutugamunu (161-131 BC) and the Tamil invader Elara in his effort to re-unite the country under one Sinhalese King.
The ruins known as Naipena Viharaya lies away from the main cluster of ruins and the ancient main street of ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom. Here infect lies 2 kovils. On the left is the larger structure which is called the Siva Kovil Number 5. Adjoining it is a smaller structure now identified as s Vishnu Kovil Number 4.
If you are looking for ancient art in Polonnaruwa I suggest you take a drive to the Tivanka Pilimage or the Tivanka Image house. or the Northern Temple of H.C.P.Bell.
Thivanka Pilimage was built by King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) and since the 8 meter tall image of Buddha has been curved in 3 places, this has been given the name “Thivanka” which literally means three curves.
Gal Viharaya of Polonnaruwa is a magnificent group of statues of Buddha carved in a rock built by king Parakramabahu (1153-1186) which was part of the Uthararama Complex.