ancient ruins
Sigiriya Lion Rock
A 5th-century fortress atop a 200-meter rock column with ancient frescoes, mirror walls, and landscaped gardens below.
27 km · about 30 min drive
North Central Province, Sri Lanka · Asia
Polonnaruwa is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Sigiriya, 27km from Sigiriya Lion Rock.
Polonnaruwa is a town located in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. With a population of 13,900, it is an important destination in Asia.
On a road trip, Polonnaruwa sits in Sri Lanka. It's in the Asia/Colombo time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Polonnaruwa to your route.
Poḷonnaruwa, (Sinhala: පොළොන්නරුව, romanized: Poḷonnaruva; Tamil: பொலன்னறுவை, romanized: Polaṉṉaṟuvai) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, and theRead more
other part of Polonnaruwa remains as the royal ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.
The second-oldest of all Sri Lanka's kingdoms, Polonnaruwa was first established as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. It was renamed Jananathamangalam by the Chola dynasty after their successful invasion of the country's then capital, Anuradhapura, in the 10th century. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site.
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Polonnaruwa offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Polonnaruwa is located in North Central Province, Sri Lanka, Asia. The coordinates are 7.9397 latitude, 81.0027 longitude.
Polonnaruwa has a population of approximately 13,900 people, making it a town in Sri Lanka.
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3 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
A 5th-century fortress atop a 200-meter rock column with ancient frescoes, mirror walls, and landscaped gardens below.
27 km · about 30 min drive
photogenic
A granite outcrop with an ancient cave monastery and reclining Buddha, reached by a short scramble. It gives the one view Sigiriya itself cannot: the Lion Rock standing whole above the plain at sunrise.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Five caves cut into a 160 m rock face, painted and filled with over 150 Buddha statues across two millennia of continuous use, the largest and best preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka.
40 km · about 45 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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