Polonnaruwa

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Sri Lanka
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, iii, vi
Reference	201
Region**	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1982  (6th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

The ancient city of Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

History

King Vijayabahu I first declared Polonnaruwa, the second most ancient of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, the capital city in 1070 C.E. He defeated the Chola invaders to reunite the country once more under a local leader. While historians consider Vijayabahu's victory, and shifting of Kingdoms to the more strategic Polonnaruwa, significant, his grandson, Parakramabahu I, receives much of the credit for building Polonnaruwa. During the short Chola reign, Polonnaruwa had been called Jananathamangalam.

Golden Age of Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa
Statue at Gal Vihariya Statue at Gal Vihariya
Coordinates: {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:7|56|0|N|81|0|0|E|type:city
	name= }}
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Polonnaruwa	Before 1070 C.E.
Government
- Mayor
Area
- Total	3,293 km² (1,271.4 sq mi)
- Land	3,077 km² (1,188 sq mi)
- Water	216 km² (83.4 sq mi)
Population (2001)
- Total	359,000
- Density	117/km² (303/sq mi)
Time zone	Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)

Parakramabahu I's reign has been called the Golden Age of Polonnaruwa, when trade and agriculture flourished under his patronage. The king adamantly commanded that every drop of water falling from the heavens would be used for the development of the land. Hence, he oversaw the creation of irrigation systems far superior to those of the Anuradhapura Age. The irrigation systems constructed during Parakramabahu's reign still supply the water necessary for paddy cultivation during the scorching dry season in the east of the country in the twenty first century. The greatest of those systems, the Parakrama Samudraya or the Sea of Parakrama, constitutes a tank so vast that often people mistaken it for a lake. The tank has such a width that a person standing one shore can not view the other side. It encircles the main city like a ribbon, being both a defensive border against intruders and the lifeline of the people in times of peace. The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa proved completely self-sufficient during King Parakramabahu's reign.

With the exception of his immediate successor, Nissankamalla I, all other monarchs of Polonnaruwa had been weak-willed and prone to create dissension within their own courts. They formed intimate matrimonial alliances with stronger South Indian Kingdoms, those matrimonial links superseded the local royal lineage. That gave rise to King Magha's Kalinga invasion in 1214, setting the stage for the passing of power into the hands of a Pandyan King following the Arya Chakrawarthi invasion of Sri Lanka in 1284. The capital then shifted to Dambadeniya.

Polonnaruwa Kingdom

The Polonnaruwa Kingdom stood as for foremost kingdom in Sri Lankan eighth century C.E. until 1310. After ruling the country for over 1200 years as the Anuradhapura Kingdom, Sri Lankan kings decide to move their capital to Polonnaruwa, hoping that the distance further inland from Anuradhapura would allow more time to organize defenses in times of foreign invasion. Polonnaruwa had previously been an important settlement in the country as it commanded the crossings of the Mahaweli Ganga towards Anuradhapura.

Some of the rulers of Polonnaruwa include Vijayabahu I and Parakramabahu I (Parakramabahu the Great). Most of the remains of Polonnaruwa date from after the 1150s, as the extensive civil wars that preceded Parakramabahu's accession to the throne devastated the city. The Polonnaruwa Kingdom had been abandoned in the 14th century, and the seat of government for the Sinhalese kings moved to Yapahuwa. Although many factors contributed to that, it's susceptibility to invasions from south India had been the leading cause of the abandonment of Polonnaruwa as the capital city of Sri Lanka.

Kings and Queens of Polonnaruwa

• Vijayabahu I
• Jaya Bahu
• Vikrama Bahu
• Parakrama Bahu, The Great
• Nissankamalla I
• Queen Lilavati

Polonnaruwa Archaeological Site

Gal Vihare

Ananda Thera (center) standing by Lord Buddha (partly visible at right, reclining) at Gal Vihare

The Gal Vihare refers to a rock temple of the Buddha situated in Polonnaruwa. Parakramabahu the Great constructed the temple in the twelfth century, his architects excavated the shrine and left an inscription describing their work. Four large statues of the Buddha, carved into the face of a granite boulder by Parakramabahu's architects, constitute the central attraction of the shrine. Those include a recumbent statue of the Buddha measuring forty six feet and a standing statue which is 23 ft. in height.

A standing figure on a lotus throne also stands inside the shrine that has been identified by historians as Ananda, the Buddha's chief disciple, weeping over the recumbent figure of the Buddha who has just attained Nirvana. Some historians, including Dr. Andreas Nell disagree, suggest that the figure depicts Buddha with an expression of sorrow caused by the elements.

Other Archeological ruins in the Polonnaruwa District

• Dimbulagala
• Madirigiriya
• Namal Pokuna
• Silumina Saya
• Maduru Oya
• Thoppigala
• Kalahagala
• Alahara
• Girithale

Polonnaruwa in the Twenty First Century

Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa remains one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing as a testimony to the discipline and greatness of the kingdom's first rulers. It served as a beautiful backdrop for the filmed Duran Duran music video Save a Prayer in 1982.

Near to the ancient city, there is a small town with several hotels (especially for tourists) and some glossy shops, and places to fulfill day to day needs. There are government institutions in a newly built area called “new town,” about 6km away from the town and the main road. The largest school in the district, Polonnaruwa Royal Central College is situated at new town.

Polonnaruwa is the 2nd largest city in north central province. But it is known as one of the cleaner and more beautiful cities in the country. The greeny environment, amazing ancient constructions, Parackrama Samudraya (a huge lake built in 1200 A.C.), attractive tourist hotels and most importantly nice people with hospitality, always attracted local and foreign tourists. One recent scientific observation is that of its climate changes. Historically Polonnaruwa had a tropical climate most of the year, although it was occasionally chilly in December and January. But in recent years the rain and chillyness has been increased noticeably. Although this is surprising to some people, it is more enjoyable for tourists. But sometimes paddy field farmers suffers when there is too much rain.

Gallery

• 

  The Recumbent statue of the Buddha. The Gal Vihariya in Polanaruwa had all three postures of the Buddha carved out of a single rock. A World Heritage site.

• 

  Polanaruwa ruins: What's left of an ancient library and reading room, at Sri Lanka's second capital city.

• 

  Garden at Polonnaruwa

• 

  Temple at Polonnaruwa

• 

  Buddha statue at a templein Polonnaruwa

See also

• Anuradhapura
• Sigiriya
• Mahawamsa

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Abeysinghe, Abeyratna Banda. 1998. Guide to Polonnaruwa. Panadura: Dimuthu Printers. ISBN 9789558096000.
• Balasooriya, Jayasinghe (2004). The Glory of Ancient Polonnaruva. Sooriya Printers, Polonnaruva. ISBN 955-8158-01-1 (Archeological ruins)
• Basnayake, H. T., and Uda Hettige. 2007. Polonnaruwa civilization. Colombo: Godage International Book Publishers. ISBN 9789552074752.
• Fleet, John Faithful. 1882. The dynasties of the Kanarese districts of the Bombay presidency from the earliest historical times to the Muhammadan conquest of A.D. 1318. [Ames Library pamphlet collection, 97:6]. Bombay: Government Central Press. OCLC 30609559.
• Nubin, Walter. 2002. Sri Lanka: current issues and historical background. New York: Nova Science Publishers. ISBN 9781590335734.
• Paranavitana, Senarat and Cyril Wace Nicholas. 1961. A Concise History of Ceylon. Ceylon University Press, Colombo. OCLC 465385.
• Plunkett, Richard, Brigitte Ellemor, and Verity Campbell. 2003. Sri Lanka. Melbourne, Vic: Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781740594233.
• World and its peoples: Eastern and southern Asia. 2007. New York: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9780761476351.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Polanaruwa

• Detailed map of Polonnaruwa and Sri Lanka. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Discover Sri Lanka - More information & images about Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Discover Sri Lanka - Historical background of Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Discover Sri Lanka - Old City of Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• The Medieval Capital of Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Ancient City of Polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Polonnaruwa Ancient City, Sri Lanka. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Ancient City of Polonnaruwa - World Heritage. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• "Discovering Polonnaruwa" - an article in The Hindu. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Galvihara - a unique display of rock art. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Official website of the Sri Lanka Tourism Board. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• A list of traditional names of cities in Sri Lanka. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
• Places of interest in polonnaruwa. Retrieved August 4, 2008.

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