Sri Lanka > North Central > Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa
N 7°56.386', E 81°0.083'
2012-01-30 http://www.ccf.lk/polonnaruwa/
7.80 - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Polonnaruwa is the second sacred city in Sri Lanka. After plundering of Anuradhapura , from 1070 to 1293, Polonnaruwa was the capital of the island. But the monarchs used the young city as their residence from the VII century. The most important buildings were erected during the reign of King Parakramabahu I (Parakramabahu the Great, 1153-1186). Many buildings have survived pretty well so far. Having lost the status of the capital in 1293, the city was overgrown with jungle and was discovered by the British in the XIX century.
Vatadage Temple ©Yuriy Buriak
Vatadage Temple ©Yuriy Buriak
Ancient bas-reliefs ©Yuriy Buriak
King's Council Chamber (audience hall) ©Yuriy Buriak
King's Council Chamber (audience hall) ©Yuriy Buriak
Oldest building of the Atadage Holy Square ©Yuriy Buriak
Stupa in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Satmahal Prasada, an unusual structure with unknown purpose ©Yuriy Buriak
Pool in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Interesting tree in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Interesting tree in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Former pool in the shape of a lotus (Nelum Pokuna) ©Yuriy Buriak
Shiva Temple ©Yuriy Buriak
Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Lankatilaka Temple ©Yuriy Buriak
Royal bathing pool ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of the royal palace of Parakramabahu I (Weijantha Prasada) ©Yuriy Buriak
Don't forget to take off your shoes before entering the temple ©Yuriy Buriak
The reclining image, which depicts the Buddha's parinirvana, is the largest in Gal Vihara. ©Yuriy Buriak
The seated image, which depicts the dhyana mudra, shows signs of Mahayana influence. ©Yuriy Buriak
The standing image depicts an unusual mudra. ©Yuriy Buriak
Monkey in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Birds in Polonnaruwa ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
Ruins of Polonnaruwa in colonial times ©Yuriy Buriak
VIDEO
Ticket price is $25.Map of Polonnaruwa Kandy (through Dambulla, approximately 4 hours), Colombo (6 hours) and Anuradhapura (3 hours). The bus station is in Kaduruwela, about 5 kilometers from the sacred city, although the buses pass through the historic center. If you are traveling to Polonnaruwa, better get off in the old city, but if you leave, then it's a good idea to go to Kaduruwela, to be sure that you will be sitting in the bus. There is a regular bus service between the bus station and the old city.
Tags, Sri Lanka: abandoned places , buddhist temple abandoned places , buddhist temple
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.80
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
