LANKA EXCURSIONS HOLIDAYS
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      • 15 days with 3 surf beaches
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    • Ancient Sites >
      • prehistoric sites >
        • Pahiyangala
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        • Yapahuwa
        • Tissamaharama
        • Panduwasnuwara
        • Ramba Vihara
        • Dehadu Kadulla
      • stupa temples >
        • Medirigiriya
        • Thiriyai
      • image houses >
        • Nalanda
        • Velgam Vehera
        • Divulwewa
      • Pansukulika Monasteries >
        • Ritigala
        • Manakanda
        • Kiralagala
        • Arankale
        • Gurulupotha
      • provincial temples >
        • Dimbulagala
        • Haththikuchchi
        • Lahugala
        • Kalupokuna
        • Kokabe
        • Menikdena
        • Namal Uyana
        • Dematamal Viharaya
        • Nillakgama Bodhigara
        • Kalpe
      • rock temples >
        • Pidurangala
        • Sithulpahuwa
        • Buddhangala
        • Kudumbigala
        • Madagama
        • Handagala Kanda
        • Anamaduwa
        • Wilandagoda
        • Pettagangala
        • Thammennakanda
        • Isenbessagala
        • Gonagiri
        • Koskandawala
        • Sankapala
        • Andankulam
      • hermitage caves >
        • Salgala
        • Pilikuttuwa
        • Maligatenna
        • Alawwa
      • cave temples >
        • Mulkirigala
        • Ridigama
        • Degaldoruwa
        • Aluvihara
        • Varana
        • Hindagala Temple
        • Divaguhawa
        • Thambalagollewa
        • Veheragala
        • Maradankadawala
        • Aluthepola
      • medieval shrines >
        • Dambadeniya
        • Gadaladeniya Temple near Kandy
        • Lankatilaka
        • Embekke
        • Barandiya Kovil
        • Kuruwita
      • Kandyan shrines >
        • Medawala
        • Dodanwela
        • Hanguranketa
        • Padeniya
        • Attanagalla
        • Kadadora
        • Dadagamuwa
        • Beligala
      • Ambalamas >
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        • Awariyawala
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        • Bogoda
    • Cities of Sri Lanka >
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      • Coastal Towns >
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        • Chilaw
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      • small towns >
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        • Embilipitiya
        • Habarana
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    • Mihintale >
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      • Katupotha Kanda
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      • car
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    • Sacred Places >
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        • Nelligala
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      • Sinhalese Shrines >
        • Maha Saman Devale
        • Seenigama
      • Tamil Hindu Temples >
        • Munneshvaram
        • Ketheesvaram
        • Kataragama
        • Kanniyai
        • Madampe
      • Ramayana Sites >
        • Sita Eliya
        • Manavari
        • Divurumpola
        • Shtripura Caves
      • Christian >
        • Adisham Hall
    • Giant Stupas >
      • large ancient stupas >
        • Dighavapi
        • Yudaganawa
        • Dedigama
      • large modern stupas >
        • Kotmale Maha Seya
        • Sandagiri Maha Seya
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
      • Rambodagalla statue
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
      • Kandy Perahera 2024
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      • Wavulpone
    • Beaches >
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        • Beruwela
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      • south coast >
        • Unawatuna
        • Weligama
        • Mirissa
        • Dondra
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      • southeast coast >
        • Okanda
        • Arugam Bay
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      • northeast coast >
        • Pasikuda
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    • top 20 attractions >
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  • Highlands
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    • high plains >
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    • Highland Towns & Villages >
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    • Waterfalls >
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      • famous falls >
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      • hidden falls >
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        • Lakshapana
        • Dunsinane Falls
        • Mannakethi Falls
        • Kirindi Falls
        • Bambarakiri Falls
        • Rawan Ella
        • Diyakerella Falls
        • Saree Ella
        • Yatawatta Biso Ella
    • highland lakes & ponds >
      • Lake Gregory
      • Kotmale reservoir
      • Victoria Lake
      • Kaluganga reservoir
      • Rangala Natural Pool
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Ruined Cities of Sri Lanka - Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa & more

Vatadage in Polonnaruwa
Vatadage in Polonnaruwa
Sri Lanka's two by far most significant ancient cities with imposing monuments are Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Asked which one is the most impressive of Sri Lanka's "ruined cities in the jungle", the short answer is: It depends. Anuradhapura is historically by far more important, because it is older and served as the island's capital for 1400 years and in her heydays attracted Buddhist scholars from all parts of Asia. The world's largest ancient stupas with hemispherical domes are to be seen in Anuradhapura and the most excellent specimens of typical Sri Lankan sculptural art, too, namely the famous Samadhi Buddha and the most excellent moonstone and the most detailed guardstone, too. However, Polonnaruwa, which served as the capital from the early 11th to almost the mid 13th century, is more charming, as the buildings are more densily distributed and in a better state of conservation and among Polonnaruwa's attractions are two of the most iconic sights of the ancient Sinhalese civilization, namely the circular temple on the ceremonial "quadrangle" platform with the largest group of ancient buildings and the rock-cut Buddhas of Gal Vihara, which are indisputably the finest pieces of sculptural art of this kind on the island. If you have time only for the visit of one of the two ancient and medieval capitals, let's say: the historian will choose Anuradhapura definitely, but for families traveling with kids exploring Polonnaruwa will be more exciting for sure. But asked what historians traveling with kids would prefer ... we have no idea.

After Anuradhapura, the island had several more capitals in quick succession during the late Middle Ages and early modern period, namely Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa, Kurunegala, Gampola, Kotte, Sitawake. However only few and small remnants have survived from their respective heydays, except from Yapahuwa. Yapahuwa is small in size when compared to Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, but special in its design. The most impressive building is a magnificent stairway at the slope of an isolated rock and has two rings of fortification walls to the bottom of the rock. Yapahuwa is lonesome and a scenic attraction, too.

Talking about scenic cities on and around a rock, what comes to ones mind first is Sigiriya of course. Sigiriya is from the 5th century and was a short-term capital during the mid Anuradhapura period. Sure, Sigiriya is most famous for the spectacular rock palace and the ancient frescos called clous maidens and Asia's most ancient garden surviving till the present day. However, Sigiriya was not only a royal palace, but an entire city, which was situated to the west of the palace. But today only the palace with rock and garden is the imposing part of this large ancient capital.

Though in antiquity Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka's by far most important town and often in charge of the entire island, the very southeast and the west of the island formed principalities that can sometimes by called kingdoms in their own right, namely Rohana (today callled Ruhuna in Sinhala) and Mayarata (later called Dakkhinadesa in the late Anuradhapura and following periods) in the west. Both had capitals, too. The capital of Rohana, Tissamaharama, is sometimes called "the Anuradhapura of the south", the reason is that it also has stupas of enourmous dimensions. However, the ruined city of Tissamaharama is much, much smaller than that of Anuradhapura. Not much remains from the ancient capital of the western region of the island, Kelaniya. To be sure, Kelaniya is a vibrant city today and the Kelaniya temple is among the most revered on the island. However, the structures are modern. This is to say, Kelaniya is quite the opposite of a ruined city in the jungle. But the west had a different capital in the Polonnaruwa period, namely the ruined city that is called Panduvasnuwara today. Again, Panduwasnuwara is much less impressive than Polonnaruwa. But it's a kind of predecessor or prototype of Polonnaruwa. The founder of the royal city of Panduwasnuwara of which ruins can be studied today was no less than Parkramabahu I, the mightiest king of the Polonnaruwa period. Before he came to power in Polonnaruwa as a result of long military campaigns and a contract of succession, Parakramabahu was the king of the western area. He is the first king of this region who gained control over the entire island, because he showed his administrational skills, particularly concerning irrigation and trade, when he resided in Panduwasnuwara. In the south is also a ruined city from the Polonnaruwa period, namely in the area of which is Ridiyagama today. The sacred area of this once important city is the large compound of what is today called the temple of Ramba Viharaya. Actually, Ramba Viharaya includes several ancient constructions, image houses in particular.

The hillcountry has no large ancient sites from the ancient period. But a doorway of an ancient fortification wall from the Anuradhapura period can be seen in the Kotmale Valley, it's called Dehadu Kadulla.

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Yapahuwa fortified city
Yapahuwa fortified city
dam of the Kotmale Reservoir
Tissamaharama in the Deep South
Panduvasnuwara in Kurunegala District
Panduvasnuwara in Kurunegala District
Ramba Vihara near Embilipitiya
Ramba Vihara near Embilipitiya
Dehadu Kadulla near Kotmale Dam
Dehadu Kadulla near Kotmale Dam
Sri Lanka destinations A-Z
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Sri Lanka's Travel Regions
Find a list of 270 Sri Lanka travel destinations & attractions:

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Why travel with Lanka Excursions Holidays?

+ We are a local agency owned and run by Sri Lankans, not part of international holdings
+ We are well known for our direct and personal relationships with travellers 
+ We facilitate authentic meetings with locals who are not from the tourism sector 
  + We follow a strict policy not to push guests to visit shops and shops and shops
+ We have an unrivalled expertise to show you places off the beaten path
+ We provide genuine information instead of clichés and tourism industry slogans

Our ambition is to provide high-quality information in preparation of your Sri Lanka holidays
... and even more superb travel experiences

we also run our own guesthouse near Anuradhapura:
First House Mihintale
First House Mihintale
87, Missaka Mawatha, Mihintale 50300, Sri Lanka.
0094 71 6097795
Rooms in Mihintale

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Lanka Excursions Holidays
Registration Number SLTDA - TA - 02179
255/24, "Green Park" Dawatagahawatta, Thimbirigaskatuwa, Mahahunupitiya East, Negombo, Sri Lanka
Office: +94 31 223 991
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Picture
if not stated otherwise, texts and photos provided  by Ernst A. Sundermann
all rights reserved, © 2016 Lanka Excursion Holidays
  • Home
    • Welcome
    • Terms
    • Italian Guiding & more
    • payments
    • по-русски
  • About
  • Info
    • Where is Sri Lanka
    • Names of Sri Lanka
    • Tips for planning Sri Lanka tours
    • Travel Regions >
      • Cultural Triangle images
      • Central Highlands images
      • Western Plains images
      • Southwest Wet Zone images
      • Deep South images
      • Eastern Shores images
      • Northern Province images
    • off the beaten path >
      • highly recommended
      • around Colombo
      • around Yapahuwa
      • around Anuradhapura
      • around Jaffna
      • around Trincomalee
      • around Polonnaruwa
      • around Sigiriya
      • around Kandy
      • around Nuwara Eliya
      • around Arugam Bay
      • around Hambantota
      • around Bentota
      • all over Sri Lanka
    • Things to do
    • Slide Show >
      • Famous Places Slide Show
      • Less-known Sites Slide Show
  • Tours
    • tailor-made tours
    • Food Safaris in Sri Lanka >
      • Negombo Food Safaris
      • Negombo Food Tour - private
      • Colombo Food Tour - private
      • Trincomalee Beach BBQ - private
      • Trincomalee City & BBQ - private
      • Trincomalee City & Lunch - private
      • Trincomalee Food Tour - private
      • Pigeon Island Food Tour - private
      • Nilaveli Seafood tour - private
      • Nilaveli Food Excursion - private
      • Anuradhapura Food Safari - private
      • Polonnaruwa Food Safari
      • Sigiriya Food Safari
      • Kandy Lunch Food Tour - colonial
      • Kandy Lunch&Dinner Tour - colonial
      • Galle half-day Food Safari
      • Galle full-day Food Safari
      • Galle two-days Food Safari
    • Jeep Safaris >
      • Yala Safaris
      • Yala Block 2 Safaris
      • Bundala Safaris
      • Udawalawa Safaris
      • Kumana Safaris
      • Gal Oya Safaris
      • Wilpattu Safaris
      • Minneriya or Kaudulla Safaris
      • Hurulu
    • 4-days classic
    • 8 days tour
    • 6 days Buddhist Pilgrimage
    • 7 days Buddhist Pilgrimage
    • 4 weeks honeymoon tour
    • your-price-choice
    • pinnawela+kitulgala
    • 3 days 2 nights
    • 4 days 3 nights
    • Sri Lanka Transport Service
    • 7 days with 4 hikes
    • 10 days with 7 hikes
    • 2-days trek Knuckles-5-Peaks
    • 15 days with 7 means of travel
    • Bentota beach holidays
    • Nilaveli beach holidays
    • Services >
      • Outdoor Anuradhapura
    • Tripadvisor
    • Cambodia
    • Nepal
    • deutsch >
      • 15 days with 3 surf beaches
  • Attractions
    • World Heritage Sites >
      • Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
      • Polonnaruwa World Heritage Site
      • Sigiriya World Heritage Site
      • Dambulla World Heritage Site
      • Kandy Sacred City
      • Galle Fort
    • Ancient Sites >
      • prehistoric sites >
        • Pahiyangala
        • Batadomba Lena
        • Belilena
        • Padavigampola
      • ruined cities >
        • Yapahuwa
        • Tissamaharama
        • Panduwasnuwara
        • Ramba Vihara
        • Dehadu Kadulla
      • stupa temples >
        • Medirigiriya
        • Thiriyai
      • image houses >
        • Nalanda
        • Velgam Vehera
        • Divulwewa
      • Pansukulika Monasteries >
        • Ritigala
        • Manakanda
        • Kiralagala
        • Arankale
        • Gurulupotha
      • provincial temples >
        • Dimbulagala
        • Haththikuchchi
        • Lahugala
        • Kalupokuna
        • Kokabe
        • Menikdena
        • Namal Uyana
        • Dematamal Viharaya
        • Nillakgama Bodhigara
        • Kalpe
      • rock temples >
        • Pidurangala
        • Sithulpahuwa
        • Buddhangala
        • Kudumbigala
        • Madagama
        • Handagala Kanda
        • Anamaduwa
        • Wilandagoda
        • Pettagangala
        • Thammennakanda
        • Isenbessagala
        • Gonagiri
        • Koskandawala
        • Sankapala
        • Andankulam
      • hermitage caves >
        • Salgala
        • Pilikuttuwa
        • Maligatenna
        • Alawwa
      • cave temples >
        • Mulkirigala
        • Ridigama
        • Degaldoruwa
        • Aluvihara
        • Varana
        • Hindagala Temple
        • Divaguhawa
        • Thambalagollewa
        • Veheragala
        • Maradankadawala
        • Aluthepola
      • medieval shrines >
        • Dambadeniya
        • Gadaladeniya Temple near Kandy
        • Lankatilaka
        • Embekke
        • Barandiya Kovil
        • Kuruwita
      • Kandyan shrines >
        • Medawala
        • Dodanwela
        • Hanguranketa
        • Padeniya
        • Attanagalla
        • Kadadora
        • Dadagamuwa
        • Beligala
      • Ambalamas >
        • Panavitiya
        • Karagahagedara
        • Awariyawala
        • Ranamure Pihilla
        • Bogoda
    • Cities of Sri Lanka >
      • Major Cities >
        • Colombo
        • Kandy attractions
        • Nuwara Eliya
        • Trincomalee
        • Ratnapura
        • Batticaloa
        • Kurunegala
        • Matale
        • Kalutara
        • Matara
        • Badulla
      • Coastal Towns >
        • Kalmunai
        • Pottuvil
        • Hambantota
        • Tangalle
        • Chilaw
        • Puttalam
        • Trincomalee attractions
      • small towns >
        • Avissawella
        • Embilipitiya
        • Habarana
        • Kilinochchi
        • Bibile
        • Giritale
        • Rattota
        • Giriulla
    • Mihintale >
      • Mihintale attractions
      • Katupotha Kanda
      • Guesthouse Rooms
      • Rent my Villa
      • Activities around Mihintale
      • Picnic at Kaludiya Pokuna
      • car
      • Day trips by car
      • Mihintale-sightseeing
      • Hiking in Mihintale
    • Sacred Places >
      • buddhist sites >
        • Mahiyangana
        • Kelaniya
        • Seruwila
        • Somawathiya
        • Nelligala
        • Bhadravathi
      • Sinhalese Shrines >
        • Maha Saman Devale
        • Seenigama
      • Tamil Hindu Temples >
        • Munneshvaram
        • Ketheesvaram
        • Kataragama
        • Kanniyai
        • Madampe
      • Ramayana Sites >
        • Sita Eliya
        • Manavari
        • Divurumpola
        • Shtripura Caves
      • Christian >
        • Adisham Hall
    • Giant Stupas >
      • large ancient stupas >
        • Dighavapi
        • Yudaganawa
        • Dedigama
      • large modern stupas >
        • Kotmale Maha Seya
        • Sandagiri Maha Seya
    • Rock Buddha statues >
      • Gal Vihara
      • Aukana Buddha
      • Sasseruwa Buddha
      • Buduruwagala
      • Dowa
      • Maligawila
      • Kushtaraja Statue
      • Thanthirimale
      • Bakamuna
      • Maboda Temple
      • Rambodagalla statue
    • National Parks >
      • Yala NP
      • Wilpattu NP
      • Maduru Oya NP
      • Gal Oya NP
      • Udawalawe NP
      • Minneriya NP
      • Kaudulla NP
      • Kumana NP
      • Bundala NP
      • Ussangoda
      • leopards
    • Activity Attractions >
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