Following the decline of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa rose to prominence as Sri Lanka's second great capital in the 11th century. The ruins of this medieval city are exceptionally well-preserved and are clustered closer together, making it an incredibly rewarding archaeological site to explore.
The highlight of Polonnaruwa is the Gal Viharaya, a magnificent rock temple where four colossal images of Lord Buddha have been carved flawlessly into a single granite rock face. Visitors can also marvel at the ruins of the Royal Palace, the highly detailed Vatadage, and the massive Parakrama Samudra (Sea of Parakrama), a man-made reservoir that showcases the incredible engineering skills of the era.
