Polonnaruwa - a city in the northeast of central Sri Lanka. In 1982, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

After Pollonaruva some time was the royal capital, it is, thanks to its convenient location at the crossroads of important land transport routes between Colombo and Batticaloa, has turned into a medium-sized town and became famous thanks to its ancient city. Now she and preserved as a historical park. The fact that it is close to several national parks attracts many visitors.

For three centuries Polonnaruwa was the royal capital Cholskogo and Sinhala kingdoms. Despite the nearly 1,000-year-old age, it is much younger than the Anuradhapura and better preserved. The monument is located in a fairly compact garden, and their development is easier to trace. It is best to explore Pollonaruvu a bike that can be rented at several places in the city. For a small fee you can also hire a guide who will tell a lot of interesting facts.

Male Dynasty from South India after the conquest of Anuradhapura in the late 10th century, moved the capital to Polonnaruwa, since it was strategically better positioned to protect against any uprising of Sinhala kingdom in the south-east. In addition, there were fewer mosquitoes. When the Sinhala king Viyayabahu Chola I drove to the island in 1070, he left the capital to Polonnaruwa.

When King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 gg.), Polonnaruwa reached its peak bloom. King erected huge buildings, beautiful parks, and a crown of progress - which stretches for 2,500 hectares of irrigation system, which was so great that it has been named named the Sea of ​​Parakrama.

After Parakramabahu I came to power, Nissanka Malla (1187-1196 gg.), Who practically bankrupted the kingdom of his attempts to match the achievements of his predecessors. By the early 13th century, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura and both became vulnerable to incursions from the south of India and in the end she, too, was abandoned and the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom was moved to the west of the island.