The Kiri Vehera in Polonnaruwa is a 12th-century bubbulākāra stupa commissioned by Queen Subhadda, a wife of King Parakramabahu the Great (r. 1153–1186 CE). It is Sri Lanka’s best-preserved ancient monument and features three receding pēsāvas and unique deity carvings on its devatā-koṭuva.
Gopala Pabbatha in Polonnaruwa is a small cave monastery that also marks the southern boundary of the Alahana Pirivena. The site is seldom visited by tourists, making it an ideal place to experience the same tranquility once sought by hermit bhikkus millennia ago.
The Oth Pilimaya in Polonnaruwa is a 12th-century recumbent Buddha shrine situated at the western edge of the Dalada Maluwa. Likely commissioned by King Parākramabāhu I, the brick-core statue rests upon an elevated pedestal, surrounded by original stone pillars that once supported a protective, roofed image house.
Nissanka Latha Mandapaya in Polonnaruwa is a 12th-century architectural masterpiece commissioned by King Nissanka Malla. Renowned for its unique curvilinear pillars mimicking lotus stalks, this elegant Kuludage served as a royal pavilion for chanting Pirit, featuring a central stone stupa and an intricate post-and-rail stone enclosure.
The Thuparama Image House in Polonnaruwa is one of the finest surviving examples of a Gedige-style building, featuring a rare, intact vaulted brick roof. Attributed to King Parākramabāhu the Great, this thick-walled shrine displays unique Dravidian architectural influences, housing limestone Buddha statues.
The Polonnaruwa Vatadage is a pinnacle of ancient Sri Lankan architecture, characterized by its concentric stone pillars and double-tiered circular base. Commissioned by Parākramabāhu I and embellished by Nissanka Malla, this Stūpaghara features unique smooth-haired Buddha statues, exquisite Nāga guardstones, and iconic moonstones that historically omitted the bull.
The Hatadage in Polonnaruwa is a grand 12th-century shrine built to house the sacred Tooth Relic. Completed by Nissanka Malla but likely initiated by Parākramabāhu the Great, this two-story Gandhakuṭī features unique moonstones depicting lions, intricate stone carvings of hansa, and three standing Buddha statues within its ancient sanctum.
The Pabalu Vehera in Polonnaruwa is a unique 12th-century stupa attributed to Queen Rūpāvatī. Its name, meaning “beads,” stems from archaeological finds of glass beads. Featuring nine surrounding image houses and Mahāyāna inscriptions, this bubbulākāra structure remains the kingdom’s third-largest monument.
Rankot Vehera—also known as the Rankot Dagaba or Golden Spire—is the largest completed stupa in the ancient kingdom of Polonnaruwa. Located on the southern edge of the Alahana Parivena monastic complex, it stands as a remarkable example of 12th-century engineering and religious architecture.
Explore the Baddhasīmā Prāsāda, the 12th-century spiritual heart of Polonnaruwa. Built by King Parākramabāhu the Great, this monumental “Chapter House” unified the Buddhist order. Discover its massive stone pillars, sacred assembly halls, and its unique role within the historic Alāhana Pariveṇa monastic university.
The Alāhana Pariveṇa, King Parākramabāhu’s medieval monastic university, is a masterpiece of Sinhalese urban planning. Built on royal cremation grounds, its terraced landscape features the towering Laṅkātilaka Image House and the Baddhasīmāpāsāda. Remarkably, excavations revealed an advanced ancient hospital, complete with surgical instruments and medicinal stone troughs.
This pyramid-shaped, seven storied building called Sathmahal Prasadaya (11th -13th century) is thought to be an unusually shaped stupa.
Constructed by King Parakramabahu, the Council Chamber is located in front of the palace. It stands on three layers of solid rock, each adorned with intricate carvings. The first layer features a border of elephants, each depicted in a unique posture. The second layer showcases carvings of lions, while the third layer is embellished with images of “Wamana.”
The Kumara Pokuna (Prince’s Bath or Prince Pond) is an exceptional granite bathing pool located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. Positioned just outside the Citadel rampart near its southeastern corner, it served the royal household during the 12th-century reign of King Parākramabāhu I (1153-1186 CE) .
Standing just south of Polonnaruwa’s citadel, Potgul Vehera is one of Sri Lanka’s most intriguing medieval monuments. Long known as the “Library Monastery,” its massive brick rotunda, ancient murals, and debated function reveal a lost centre of Buddhist learning and royal patronage.
Hidden deep within farmlands of Polonnaruwa, which had been the ancient Bhu Wewa reservoir, lies a Biso Kotuwa, a sophisticated hydraulic marvel once used to regulate huge water bodies. Mysterious, compact, and expertly engineered, this forgotten structure reveals the ingenuity of Sri Lanka’s ancient water management system.
Immediately behind the Polonnaruwa Rest House, now known as ETKO Lake House, lies a remarkable brick Biso Kotuwa (valve pit) once connected to the Parakrama Samudraya. Constructed during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186 CE), this structure regulated the water flow supplied to the Deepa Uyana, the royal park.
The Polonnaruwa Archaeological Museum is an essential starting point for exploring the medieval capital. It features immersive scale models of the Royal Palace and monks’ hospitals, alongside a world-class collection of Chola bronzes, ancient medical tools, and intricate stone carvings that bring the 12th-century kingdom to life.
“Lotus Pond III” (Nelum Pokuna III) lie 850 meters north of the better known 8 petaled 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.
“Lotus Pond II” (Nelum Pokuna II) is built in the form of 4 petals. Five layers of finely carved stone petals are placed on one another to build this pond. Excavations of this pond started in 2019 by the Department of Archaeology.
