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Beautiful Places of polonnaruwa
Parakrama Samudra
Parakrama Samudra, which means "Sea of Parakramabahu", is a man made irrigation tank to the southwest of the ancient city covering an area of over 23 square kilometres. It has been restored more or less in its original form. The tank bund is about 13 km. long and 12 metres high.
Royal places
The Citadel housed the palace and the administrative buildings of King Prakramabahu, the Great (12th century AD) and is enclosed by a huge rampart more than a metre thick. According to historical records the King's Palace had been seven stories high with a thousand chambers. The remains of three stories and a few of the chambers can be seen. The Council Chamber where the King met his ministers is situated a few metres away in front of the palace. It is an impressive building with fine stone carvings. The Royal Bath is outside the rampart with a flight of steps leading to it. The beautiful bath is made of stone with a small pavilion probably used as a changing room.
It is of such a width that it is impossible to stand upon one shore and view the other side, and 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 was completely self-sufficient during King Parakramabahu's reign.
Gal viharaya
Gal Vihara or the Rock Temple of the 12th century is a magnificent group of stone Buddha images that had been originally enclosed in brick buildings. They are masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture in Sri Lanka and had been the work of King Parakramabahu, the Great.
Gal Viharaya are the most impressive sculptures found at Polonnaruwa built in 12th century A.D. by King Parakramabahu the 1st.The great Buddha images of different postures are carved in one granite rock.
The first is a samadhi image in meditation posture while the second is inside a cave and the third standing buddha image with crossed arms and the fourth is a recumbent buddha image depicting the passing away.
Parakrama Samudra
Parakrama Samudra, which means "Sea of Parakramabahu", is a man made irrigation tank to the southwest of the ancient city covering an area of over 23 square kilometres. It has been restored more or less in its original form. The tank bund is about 13 km. long and 12 metres high.
Royal places
The Citadel housed the palace and the administrative buildings of King Prakramabahu, the Great (12th century AD) and is enclosed by a huge rampart more than a metre thick. According to historical records the King's Palace had been seven stories high with a thousand chambers. The remains of three stories and a few of the chambers can be seen. The Council Chamber where the King met his ministers is situated a few metres away in front of the palace. It is an impressive building with fine stone carvings. The Royal Bath is outside the rampart with a flight of steps leading to it. The beautiful bath is made of stone with a small pavilion probably used as a changing room.
It is of such a width that it is impossible to stand upon one shore and view the other side, and 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 was completely self-sufficient during King Parakramabahu's reign.
Gal viharaya
Gal Vihara or the Rock Temple of the 12th century is a magnificent group of stone Buddha images that had been originally enclosed in brick buildings. They are masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture in Sri Lanka and had been the work of King Parakramabahu, the Great.
Gal Viharaya are the most impressive sculptures found at Polonnaruwa built in 12th century A.D. by King Parakramabahu the 1st.The great Buddha images of different postures are carved in one granite rock.
The first is a samadhi image in meditation posture while the second is inside a cave and the third standing buddha image with crossed arms and the fourth is a recumbent buddha image depicting the passing away.
The third standing buddha image is highly appreciated as it indicates Buddha?s great mercy and sorrows also see the ability of the artist who made the black patch going over the nose and avoided going over the eyes.
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