Polonnaruwa District

Introduction

Polonnurawa is situated in North Central Province of Sri Lanka at a distance of 216 km from Colombo and 75 km South East of Anuradhapura. Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka in medieval times between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Polonnaruwa had its own fabulous Buddhist architecture and irrigational network that had been built over the centuries by earlier Sinhala Kings. The ruins of the ancient city can be found on the east shore of a large artificial lake; Parakrama Samudra.

The city in its day was fortified with three concentric walls and beautified with parks and gardens. In 1982 the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was declared as a world heritage city by UNESCO.

Climate

Polonnaruwa District has a dry climatic condition. Most days are hot, humid and sunny with temperatures averaging between 26 – 33°C. A hat and sunscreen will be essential if you are planning to spend the day outdoors.