Giritale - reservoir between Minneriya and Polonnaruwa
Giritale is a small city at the ancient tank of the same name. Giritale has become a favourite base for excursions to Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site 12 km to the southeast and Minneriya National Park 15 km to the northwest. Medirigiriya is 23 km to the north. Several stylish and eco-friendly hotels such as Deer Park and Giritale Hotel are situated in Giritale. The reservoir is part of the Minneriya-Giritale Nature Reserve, which is an important bird habitat in the dry zone of Sri Lanka’s north-central plains.
Giritale is a historical tank between Pollonnaruwa, smaller neighboring tha Minneriya reservoir and the Topa Wewa. Gritale is located twelve kilometers northwest of Polonnaruwa. The A11 road to Polonnaruwa runs within sight of it. Today, a large Buddha statue stands on the lake’s shore as a new landmark.
The reservoir was constructed during the reign of Aggabodhi II (598-608), whom the Sinhalese also refer to as Agbo II. The Giritale Wewa is one of the last major reservoirs created during the Anuradhapura period. The subsequent seventh century was a time of constant civil wars, during which there were no sufficiently powerful kings to organize large irrigation systems. Furthermore, the area of the royal domain, today's Cultural Triangle, was largely developed in terms of irrigation, so the kings and other reservoir owners of the late Anuradhapura period from the 8th to the 10th centuries were mainly engaged in maintenance work on the existing irrigation network. It was only during the Polonnaruwa period, after half a millennium, that new major projects emerged, creating the ultimately last historical large dam constructions of the ancient Sinhalese civilization.
The Giritale Tank is surrounded on three sides by bush forests, which are particularly known for their rich birdlife. The Minneriya-Giritale Sanctuary, adjacent to the northwestern shore of the lake, is known for its elephants, buffalo herds, and as a refuge for water birds. Giritale is an excellent basis in a relaxing environment for day trips in the Polonnaruwa area.
The reservoir was constructed during the reign of Aggabodhi II (598-608), whom the Sinhalese also refer to as Agbo II. The Giritale Wewa is one of the last major reservoirs created during the Anuradhapura period. The subsequent seventh century was a time of constant civil wars, during which there were no sufficiently powerful kings to organize large irrigation systems. Furthermore, the area of the royal domain, today's Cultural Triangle, was largely developed in terms of irrigation, so the kings and other reservoir owners of the late Anuradhapura period from the 8th to the 10th centuries were mainly engaged in maintenance work on the existing irrigation network. It was only during the Polonnaruwa period, after half a millennium, that new major projects emerged, creating the ultimately last historical large dam constructions of the ancient Sinhalese civilization.
The Giritale Tank is surrounded on three sides by bush forests, which are particularly known for their rich birdlife. The Minneriya-Giritale Sanctuary, adjacent to the northwestern shore of the lake, is known for its elephants, buffalo herds, and as a refuge for water birds. Giritale is an excellent basis in a relaxing environment for day trips in the Polonnaruwa area.
