Polonnaruwa is a small town in Sri Lanka's dry zone, in the North Central Province. Beside it lies the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1982. The city was the main capital of the Sinhalese kingdom for roughly two centuries, and its ruins are among the best preserved on the island.
The heart of the site is the Sacred Quadrangle, with the circular Vatadage, the Hatadage and a small pavilion of curved stone pillars. Beyond it you will find the great Rankoth Vehera stupa, the plastered Kiri Vehera, and the four Buddha figures of Gal Vihara carved from a single granite face. A Hindu shrine from the period of Chola rule, the Siva Devale, shows that the city was shaped by more than one tradition.
The kings who built it were also water engineers. Parakramabahu I, who reigned from 1153 to 1186, enlarged the reservoir now called Parakrama Samudra, which still irrigates local fields. Seeing the tank at sunset is as much part of the visit as walking the ruins.
Polonnaruwa works well as a one- or two-night stop between Sigiriya, Dambulla and the hill country. Heat is the main challenge for older travellers: the site is spread over several kilometres, the stone is hot underfoot, and shade is limited. Plan the ruins for early morning and late afternoon, hire a driver or tuk-tuk for the longer distances, and read the food section before you book, since vegetarian and Jain dining needs planning.
Before you plan
Polonnaruwa at a glance
- Best months
- February, March and August to…February, March and August to September are the driest and most dependable; October to December are wet. See the month chart.
- Ideal trip length
- 1 to 2 nights1 to 2 nights; one full day covers the main ruins, and a second day allows the reservoir, a safari or a slower pace
- Airport
- Bandaranaike International Airport,…Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo (CMB), about 5 to 6 hours by road; Hingurakgoda (HIM), about 12 km north of town, is a small domestic and air force airfield with only limited charter service listed
- Railway station
- Polonnaruwa station is on the…Polonnaruwa station is on the Batticaloa line, with the Udaya Devi service linking Colombo Fort and Batticaloa; check timetables and which services stop here before relying on it
- Getting around
- The ruins are spread over several…The ruins are spread over several kilometres, so a car with a driver, a tuk-tuk or a hired bicycle works best; the modern town is about 3 km south of the archaeological zone
- Daily budget
- Varies widely with stay and…Varies widely with stay and transport choices; guesthouses are inexpensive and resorts at Giritale or Habarana cost much more. Check current prices.
- Senior comfort
- Moderate: little climbingModerate: little climbing, but long distances, hot stone and limited shade; early starts and a midday rest are essential
- Language
- Sinhala is the local languageSinhala is the local language; English is widely understood in tourist areas, and Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Polonnaruwa: February, August, September. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Polonnaruwa itinerary
One good day
1 day in Polonnaruwa
Start at opening time at the Sacred Quadrangle and see the Vatadage, Hatadage and Nissanka Latha Mandapaya. Visit Rankoth Vehera, then Kiri Vehera and Menik Vehera, and finish with Gal Vihara before the heat peaks. Rest through midday. In the late afternoon, see the Parakramabahu statue and watch the sunset at Parakrama Samudra.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Polonnaruwa
See the Vatadage, Hatadage, pavilion, Rankoth Vehera and Kiri Vehera in the morning, then rest. Spend the late afternoon at the reservoir.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Polonnaruwa
See the Vatadage, Hatadage and pavilion, then Rankoth Vehera. Rest in the afternoon and visit the reservoir at sunset.
Day-by-day plan →
