Vishnu Devale No. 3 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

54 years ago2 months ago02 mins

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

Be the first to rate

The electric fence separating the ruins of Vishnu Devalaya Mo 3 from the main road

Ruins of the kovil identified as Vishnu Devale No. 3 of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom lie away from the main cluster of ruins close to the Parakrama Samudraya reservoir.

The Cola occupation of the country during the period 1017-1070 CE saw the establishment of many shrines dedicated to the worship of godheads of the Hindu Pantheon. Polonnaruwa having been their centre of administration for several decades, most of these shrines were founded within the capital itself.

At least fourteen ruined monuments of this category were discovered by Bell during the first decade of the twentieth century. Recent excavations have exposed one more brick built devales including a one in the Alahana Parivena complex. It is possible that some of these monuments were founded in the thirteenth century when yet another wave of invasion took place under Magha of Kaliga which ultimately saw the fall of the Polonnaruwa kingdom.

Vishnu Devale No. 3 is a completely brick structure. Only the foundation of the kovil remains restored. Access to these ruins is 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 come to the reservoir coming to the town.

Hindu Shrines Discovered in the Ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom

Also See

Map of Vishnu Devale No. 3 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

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 royal ancient 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 : 4.45 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Through : Matale – Dambulla – Habarana Distance : 140 km Travel Time : 3.5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps
Route from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa Sacred City	Route from Batticaloa to Polonnaruwa Sacred City
Though : Maradankadawala – Habarana Distance : 103 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map	Though : Chenkaladi – Valachchena Distance : 97 km Travel Time : 2 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Ruins of Allirani Fort in Arasapuram, Kilinochchi (අරිසපුරම් අල්ලිරානි කොටුව නටබුන්)
Ruins found at Arasapuram are believed to be ruins of a fort of Queen Allirani by the locals. However, no formal archaeological excavation has been done on this site. These ruins most probably belonged to an ancient monastery built millennia ago. […]
A Ride Through the Historic Hamilton Canal (Dutch Canal)
The Hamilton Canal also known as the Dutch Canal and Paru Ela in Sinhalese, connecting Puttalam and Colombo, has a rich history dating back to the colonial era. It was first started by the Portuguese (1505–1656) who started cutting the waterway from the Kelani Ganga River. They built the canal to redirect river floods and protect fertile paddy land. […]
Negombo Lellama Fish Market : An Explosion of Colours
The Negombo Fish Market is a bustling hub of activity located in the coastal city of Negombo, Sri Lanka. It is renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and the wide variety of fresh seafood available for sale. Fishermen bring in their catches from the Indian Ocean, and the market comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of the sea. […]
Mihintale Slab Inscriptions and the Relic House (4වන මිහිඳු රජුගේ මිහින්තලේ පුවරු ලිපි)
The inscription of King Mahinda IV belonging to the tenth century is installed on the two sides of the entrance to this Vihara. The relic house is a square building. […]
Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila (දඹේගොඩ ටැම් ලිපිය)
Established by King Mahinda IV (956-972) Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila narrates the religious acts of the king and lays down rules for the administration of certain religious establishments. […]
Kotttapitiya Slab Inscription (කෝට්ටපිටිය පුවරු ලිපිය)
The Kotttapitiya Slab Inscription is considered one of the 14 valuable inscriptions of the Anuradhapura Era. The pillar inscription is believed to have been placed by King Mahinda IV (956-972) and is 6 feet in height and 1.5 feet wide. 45 lines of text have been inscribed on this pillar. […]
Ranawa Andiyagala Pillar Inscription (රණව ආඬියාගල ටැම් ලිපිය)
Placed by King Dappula IV in the early part of the 10th century, this Ranawa Andiyagala Pillar Inscription declares a sanctuary for Animal, Plants as well as Humans in the Namal Uyana area. Even royal guards were prohibited from entering this area to apprehend criminals. […]
Dutugemunu Pillar at Ruwanweli Seya (දුටුගැමුණු ශිලා ස්ථම්භය)
Many do not pay special attention to this pillar which is generally called "Dutugenumu Pillar" but the story behind this pillar is interesting as the construction of the Ruwanweli Seya itself. This pillar was installed by King Devanampiyatissa (250-210 BCE) on the advice of Mihindu Maha Thero. […]
Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Burial Site in Maduru Oya Valley
In this Wadamunai (Wadamune) Megalithic Cemetery, scattered across the landscape, lie between 15 to 20 graves. Unfortunately, the peaceful serenity of these resting places has been disrupted by thorn bushes, which have taken root amidst many of the tombs. Adding to the desecration, some graves have fallen victim to the destructive hands of treasure hunters, who have ransacked them in search of valuables. […]
Gurugalhinna Megalithic Burial Grounds
Gurugalhinna Megalithic Cemetery was initially uncovered and examined in 1896 by R. W. Levers. Subsequently, in the 1970s, Raja De Silva from the Department of Archaeology led excavations at Gurugalhinna. However, the burials at the site have not been scientifically dated. […]
Dalada Maligawa of Kurunegala Kingdom (කුරුණෑගල රාජධානියේ දළදා මාලිගාව)
The old city of Kurunegala Kingdom was spread between Kuruminigala and Ibbagala, bounded by Athugala. Even today ruins of the palace complex, the Temple of Tooth (Dalada Maligawa) and other buildings inside a semi-circular are found on this strip of land between Athugala and Kuruminigala. […]
Rathgallegama Sigiri Rajamaha Tampita Viharaya
Tampita Viharaya at Rathgallegama Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya is built on 4 stone pillars 2.13 meters high. A circumambulating path runs around the image house. It is 83 centimeters wide at front, 54 cm wide on sides and rear. The image house is 4.11×2.11 meters in size and the building is 4.65×3.30 meters in size. […]
Maspotha Purana Tampita Viharaya (මාස්පොත පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Maspotha Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. This Tampita Viharaya was declared as a protected archaeological monument on the gazette dated 22nd November 2002. […]
Kaluhendiwela Mayurawathi Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya (කළුහෙන්දිවෙල පුරාණ ටැම්පිට රජමහා විහාරය)
Kaluhendiwela Mayurawathi Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The small Tampita Viharaya built on 8 granite pillars was declared as a protected archaeological monument 7th December 2001. […]
Kudagalgamuwa Purana Tampita Viharaya – කුඩාගල්ගමුව පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය
Kudagalgamuwa Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. This Tampita Viharaya was declared as a protected archaeological monument on the gazette dated 25th April 1980. […]
Kongoda Bodhirajaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (කෝන්ගොඩ බෝධිරුක්ඛාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Kongoda Bodhirajaramaya Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The temple lies about 12 km from Kurunegala and 2 km off Barandana Junction on the Mallawapitiya - Keppetigolla road. […]
Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (කෝන්ගහගෙදර ශ්‍රී බෝධිදෘමාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
The Tampita Viharaya at the Kongahagedara Sri Bodhidrumaramaya Purana Viharaya is believed to be built during the latter part of the Kandyan kingdom. The Tampita Viharaya at Kongahagedara is built on 16 granite pillars. […]
Katupitiya Sri Nagarukkaramaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (කටුපිටිය ශ්‍රී නාගරුක්ඛාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Katupitiya Sri Nagarukkaramaya Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The Tampita Viharaya at Katupitiya was declared as a protected archaeological monument by the gazette dated 22nd November 2002. […]
Kalundawa Sri Sudharmarama Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya (කළුන්දාව ශ්‍රී සුධර්මාරාම ටැම්පිට රජමහා විහාරය)
Kalundawa in an ancient remote village which has come in to limelight during the recent past due the movie "Siri Parakum" which dramatize the life story king Parakramabahu II of Dambadeniya kingdom. […]
Kolamunna Sri Sugatharamaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (කොළමුන්න ශ්‍රී සුගතාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Kolamunna Sri Sugatharamaya Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era.The Tampita Viharaya at Kolamunna is built on 8 granite stumps laid in 2 rows. There entrance to the image house is through a wooden flight of steps. […]
Kahatawilagedara Sri Swarnaprathibimbaramaya Tampita Rajamaha Viharaya (කහටවිලගෙදර ශ්‍රී ස්වර්ණප්‍රතිබිම්බාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Kahatawilagedara Tampita Viharaya is an ancient Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era which was declared as an Protected Archaeological Site by the government by the gazette dated 23rd February 1967. […]
Gammana Bodhirukkarama Purana Tampita Viharaya – ගම්මන ශ්‍රී බෝධිරුක්ඛාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය
Gammana Bodhirukkarama Purana Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The temple lies about 2 km off Pothuhera lying between Polgahawela and Kurunegala. […]
Hindhawa Sri Wijesundararamaya Purana Tampita Viharaya (හිඳව ශ්‍රී විජේසුන්දරාරාමය පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)
Hindhawa Sri Wijesundararamaya Purana Viharaya is an ancient viharaya with a Tampita Viharaya belonging to the Kandyan era. The temple lies 7 km off Wariyapola in the Bamunakotuwa area. […]