Polonnaruwa
Following the fall of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa rose as the second great capital of Sri Lanka. Today, it remains one of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the country. The compact city layout allows visitors to easily explore the ruins of royal palaces, council chambers, and the breathtaking Gal Vihara, where four magnificent statues of the Buddha are carved into a single face of granite rock.
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Gal Vihara
Commissioned by King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century, this rock temple is the pinnacle of Sinhalese rock carving. It features four distinct images of the Buddha carved into a single massive granite face: a standing figure, a seated figure, and a reclining figure. The speciality lies in the fluid rendering of the robes and the serene expressions carved into hard stone. It is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Polonnaruwa. Visitors stand in awe of the sheer scale and artistic perfection of the carvings, which have survived remarkably intact for nearly 900 years, offering a direct window into the artistic peak of the Polonnaruwa kingdom.