Polonnaruwa: Ancient Rome in Asia
Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka is a town having two distinct areas; Polonnaruwa New Town in the area of Kadulurewa and the ancient city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa. This town has undergone many name changes over the course of the years – such as Pulastyanagara, Jananathapuram, and Vijayarajapuram. Rich with history and culture, the ancient city of Polonnurawa has in fact been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A domestic airport called Hingarukgoda Airport is only a thirty-minute ride away from the town’s heart.
Best Time to Visit
Sporting a tropical climate, the temperature all-year round in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka is hot and humid. There may be several months when the nights are relatively cooler though and that is the perfect window of opportunity for you to visit. These run through the months of October until January and they celebrate the Holi Festival Polonarruwa too. However, rain showers are often expected throughout the year and can vary from light to heavy.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. You can explore the Gal Vihara Rock Monastery, and then visit the Polonnaruwa Ruins. Have an awesome time touring the Polonnaruwa Archeological Museum. Don’t miss out a fantastic time visiting the Buddha Seema Prasada and Pramakamabahu Palace. As most of the attractions in town are sacred temples, it is advisable to be in respectable attire. A must-go for the nature adventurers are the Minneriya Wildlife Reserve and the Ritigala Forest. The posh Ekho Lake House Polonnaruwa, the Hotel Sudu Araliya, and the nearby Ruins Chaaya Hotel are three of the most recommended Polonnaruwa, TH hotels and accommodations.