Polonnaruwa District

The dark-grey granite “Gal Aliya ” at Katupilana, is in reality a full-sized elephant sculptured from bed rock, which here fringes the left bank of the Mahaveli-ganga river. The pseudo-beast, fronting and in exceptional relief, owing to the perfectly adapted situation and surroundings, its size and its attitude—half submerged with head slightly turned up-stream as though reconoitering before wading or swimming across the river—looks, from a short distance, very much in the flesh and very much alive.

Kompittugala Archaeology site lies inside the Somawathi National Park on the island created at the at the main forking of Mahaweli Ganga inside the National Park. This area is also known as Sinnavilluwa by the locals.

Dimbulagala Namal Pokuna is an ancient armaic complex lying on a peaceful undisturbed rocky outcrop close to the Popular Dimbulagala Temple. Probably part of the same complex in the ancient times

Mahathalakolawewa village is an remote village surrounded by jungles in Medirigirya area. According to legend, the Mahathalakolawewa Rajamaha Viharaya in this remote village has been a temporary home to the Right Tooth Relic of Buddha before it was enshrined in the Somawathi Chaithya.

An island south of Polonnaruwa on Mahaweli River with ruins of large number of buildings now covered by jungle. It is believed be once the shipyard of king Parakramabahu.

Kahambiliyawa Rajamaha Viharaya at Kahambiliyawa is built upon a ancient Buddhist temple built more than millennia ago. A fairly well preserved Samadhi Statue san a head surrounded by large pillars which would have been holding the image house, all made of granite can be seen at this temple.

As you travel from Aralaganwila towards Dehiattakandiya, the ancient Mahasen Rajamaha Viharaya at Veheragala can be seen on the left. The temple built upon a very ancient temple built millennia ago, still maintains signs of its antiquity.

Nuwaragala Viharaya is an ancient temple complex in Dehiattakandiya. To reach this temple you need to travel 14 km from the Dimbulagala Rajamaha Viharaya towards Dehiattakandiya.

The Silumina Seya Archaeological Site, hidden in the Aralaganwila jungle, is home to the largest “Chatra Gala” (Stone Umbrella) discovered in Sri Lanka. This unique site features a preserved stupa renovated by King Agbo VIII, surrounded by massive granite pillars that hint at a once-grand, sprawling monastic complex.

A hidden Samadhi statue as elegant as the Samadhi of Anuradhapura hidden away undiscovered by the general tourist.

A giant Tamarind Tree over 1700 years in Orubendisiyambalawa lying on the banks of ancient Elahera Yoda Ela. It is said that king Mahasen (276-303) used to tie his royal barge on to this tree when he visited Elahera area.