Polonnaruwa Sacred City

Cultural destinations
January 16, 2024

Polonnaruwa, the second capital of Sri Lanka after the fall of Anuradhapura in 993, stands as a historical marvel. Its landscape is adorned with Brahmanic monuments constructed by the Cholas and the ruins of an extraordinary garden city designed by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Another notable feature within this World Heritage Site is Parakrama Samudra, a colossal lake built in 1200.

Adding to its historical allure, Polonnaruwa hosts the popularly called Monkey Camp, officially named the Smithsonian Primate Research Center, which has been conducting one of the world’s longest-running studies of primates in the wild for more than half a century. The local toque macaques of Polonnaruwa even starred in Disney’s Monkey Kingdom, adding a touch of fame to this historic site.