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Ruins of the kovil identified as Vishnu Devale No. 3 of the ancient Polonnaruwa kingdom lies 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 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.
Hindu Shrines Discovered in the Ancient Polonnaruwa Kingdom
- Siva Kovil No. 1
- Siva Kovil No. 2
- Siva Kovil No. 3
- Siva Kovil No. 4
- Siva Kovil No. 5 (Naipena Viharaya)
- Siva Kovil No. 7
- Vishnu Kovil No. 2
- Vishnu Kovil No. 3
- Vishnu Kovil No. 4 (Naipena Viharaya)
- Ganesh Kovil
Also See
Map of Vishnu Devale No. 3 of Polonnaruwa Kingdom
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
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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 |