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.
Padivettina Malai is a remote rock plateau hidden between Toppigala and Kusalankanda, scattered with pillars, carved steps, and remnants of an ancient monastery. Blending archaeology with Tamil folklore, this isolated site offers a rare glimpse into long-forgotten life amid Sri Lanka’s wilderness.
Discover the hidden Yahangala of Kahatagasdigiliya, where ancient monks once meditated on rock-cut beds beneath a dramatically balanced boulder. Just 6 kilometers from town, this rugged, tree-fringed site reveals a rare glimpse into Sri Lanka’s early monastic life and timeless spiritual heritage.
Discover the hidden spring and ancient devala shrine of Gallinda, where legend says King Mahasen struck the earth with his golden sword to unleash life-saving water. Deep in Sigiriya’s jungle, this sacred site preserves centuries of faith, folklore, and Sri Lanka’s earliest irrigation heritage.
Discover the lesser-known Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya, an ancient shrine tied to King Mahasen’s 3rd-century CE legacy and later rebuilt by King Rajasinghe II. Hidden near the great reservoir, it preserves rare artifacts, legends, and the enduring heritage of Minneriya Deviyo.
The site is located in a cleared patch of jungle in the village of Pansalgodella and contains the remains of an ancient monastery, including upright stone pillars that may have belonged to an image house, as well as both standing and seated Buddha statues. Several other stone fragments are also scattered across the area.
