Polonnaruwa’s Ancient City: a Guide to Sri Lanka’s Second Kingdom
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 10 Apr 2025
Read on for an exhaustive guide of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s historical capital, including transport options, must-see spots, tickets, how to get around, some photography, plus a few personal recommendations.
It was quiet; we strolled along the overgrown, moss-topped trails, often with just birds and monkeys for company. Set along a magnificent central road, ancient Polonnaruwa’s architectural marvels sat on either side, providing little detours that made us feel like intrepid adventurers. The ancient (mostly) Buddhist remnants, still recognisable from their glorious past, peek through the forests, often providing just a tantalising glimpse of their magnitude from the main thoroughfare.
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is one that many visitors to Sri Lanka miss off their Cultural Triangle itinerary. It’s a little further away from the other well-known sites, not on the main route to or from Kandy and has a UNESCO ticket price point.
However, we wholehearted recommend a visit; it’s truly worth the entry fee. Here, we’ve written up everything that we think is helpful for planning your visit, including transport options, costs, places to stay, things to do, our experiences, a detailed map, wildlife and more.
IN THIS GUIDE //
The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
WHAT IS THE ANCIENT CITY OF POLONNARUWA?
WHERE IS THE ANCIENT CITY OF POLONNARUWA?
HOW TO GET TO POLONNARUWA
POLONNARUWA ENTRY TICKETS
– TICKET PRICES
ABOUT THE ANCIENT CITY
BEST TIME TO VISIT POLONNARUWA
GETTING AROUND THE ANCIENT CITY
ANCIENT CITY OF POLONNARUWA – MAP
PLACES TO VISIT IN POLONNARUWA
WHERE TO STAY IN POLONNARUWA
DAY TRIPS TO POLONNARUWA
THINGS TO BRING
RESTAURANTS IN POLONNARUWA
FINAL THOUGHTS – ANCIENT CITY OF POLONNARUWA
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What is the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa?
The sacred ancient city of Polonnaruwa, an early capital of Sri Lanka, is an 11th century ruined kingdom, dotted with ancient stupas and mossy statues, slowly being engulfed by the surrounding jungle.
This UNESCO designated city was, by far, our favourite site in Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle. It had an uncannily similar quality to Ayutthaya in Thailand – a grand, intricate city, slowly decaying in the wilderness.
As one of Sri Lanka’s most significant and well-preserved archaeological sites, it’s a surprise that Polonnaruwa receives a fraction of the visitors that its popular neighbour Sigiriya sees. These relatively quiet, easy-to-access, culturally and historically significant ruins are an outstanding addition to any Sri Lanka itinerary.
Where is the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa?
The ancient city of Polonnaruwa is situated in a laidback, modern-day town of the same name. It is found in the central plains, in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, adjacent to a large tank named Bendiwewa Lake.
This area is also known as the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka.
Bounded on all sides by national parks, including Minneriya and Angamadilla, Polonnaruwa has a very rural feel, with tropical forest scenery and lakes in every direction.
Polonnaruwa town is located:
◊ 60 kilometres east of Sigiriya
◊ 137 kilometres northeast of Kandy
◊ 227 kilometres northeast of Colombo
Be aware that these roads are not the fastest to traverse, so leave a comfortable margin in your schedule!
How to get to Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa Ancient City can be reached using public transport, private driver or by self-driving. Most people arrive in Polonnaruwa from Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambulla, or directly from Colombo.
We personally recommend self-driving with either a car or a tuktuk, because Sri Lanka is such a lovely country to drive in!
From Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa
Bus | there is no direct bus service from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa. Instead, the journey requires at least two buses, transferring via Dambulla. The quickest route takes most of four hours from Anuradhapura New Town to Polonnaruwa Clock Tower, with other bus routes taking longer.
Train | as with the public buses, there is also no direct train from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa. The train leaves Anuradhapura New Town and connects with a train at Maho Junction to the south (due to waiting times for the next train, can take over six hours – we wouldn’t recommend this option).
Driving | if you’re self-driving in a tuktuk or car, the journey will take a little under two and a half hours (slightly more in a tuktuk due to its maximum legal speed of 40 kilometres per hour). This was the journey we took in our tuktuk, with a detour in the morning to Mihintale).
From Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa
Bus | there is no direct bus between Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa. Instead take the Sigiriya-Dambulla bus to Inamawula, on the main road outside the town of Bellanneoya. Next, take the Colombo to Polonnaruwa bus with a total travel time around two and a half hours.
Train | Sigiriya doesn’t have a train station so there is no train between Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa.
Driving | if you’re driving to Polonnaruwa from Sigiriya instead, the journey will take around 80 minutes by car. In a tuktuk, as usual, it will take a little longer.
From Colombo to Polonnaruwa
Bus | there is a direct bus from Colombo Fort bus station which goes to Polonnaruwa Clock Tower. This journey takes six and a half hours and there are buses leave multiple times a day.
Train | the direct train from Colombo to Polonnaruwa leaves from Colombo Fort railway station, taking nearly five hours to reach Polonnaruwa railway station. There is only one direct train and, currently, it leaves at 15:05 every day.
Driving | the car journey to Polonnaruwa from the capital will take five and a half hours, with a tuktuk journey taking a little longer.
From Dambulla to Polonnaruwa
Bus | multiple direct buses leave from Dambulla, heading to Polonnaruwa Clock Tower each day, with the journey taking around two hours.
Train | Dambulla does not have a train station.
Driving | the journey by car between Dambulla and Polonnaruwa takes around 90 minutes, but driving a tuktuk takes longer.
Note | do not take the ‘scenic route’ via the B112 and B615 if driving between Dambulla and Polonnaruwa. We took this route after leaving Polonnaruwa and regretted it! The road was completely chewed up around the Minneriya – Giritale Nature Reserve and was more deep, water-filled pothole, than road. This continued for several slow, uncomfortable kilometres and is one of the worst roads we have ever driven. Our poor elderly tuktuk, Blue Pebis, had more squeaks than ever by the end of it.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR SRI LANKA TRIP
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Entry Tickets for the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Official tickets for Polonnaruwa can be purchased from the Archaeological Museum Complex, southwest of the ancient city, near Bendiwewa Lake. Do not buy tickets from any tuktuk drivers, they will not be official, and you’ll likely only see some less impressive sites outside the main UNESCO city.
Polonnaruwa tickets can now also be bought online though the Sri Lankan Central Cultural Fund website. All tickets include access to the museum.
Opening hours | for the museum are from 7am until 5pm, as per the ticket. When paying for tickets, the machine didn’t accept our card on the first two attempts, so it’s best to have enough cash as a backup.
Guides | very knowledgeable, official tuktuk guides can also be hired at the museum. I spoke to a guy called Polo for quite a while who was talking about how much of a nightmare the local monkeys are, plus what the low seasons are like in Polonnaruwa. His English was exemplary (he has relatives living in the U.K.) and he was not pushy at all.
If you do not have your own transport and don’t want to cycle, we highly recommend getting an official guide from the museum.
Polonnaruwa Ticket Prices
Tickets to Polonnaruwa cost US$30 per adult. A child between 6-12 costs US$15, and under 6 is free entry.
We paid for these in person using a VISA credit card, but you can also pay with cash in both US dollars and local currency. This price is for foreign adult tourists. SAARC residents pay half price but must bring valid proof of residency.
QUICK-HISTORY – ANCIENT CITY OF POLONNARUWA
The Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was the second, albeit short-lived, capital city of Sri Lanka, from 1070 until 1232.
In the early eleventh century, invaders from Chola, India took over the area surrounding Polonnaruwa. In 1070, the Sinhalese King Vijayabahu defeated them and made Polonnaruwa his Kingdom’s capital, re-establishing Sinhalese rule. As a monarch, he ruled for over half a century, until his death in 1110.
During subsequent reigns, the domain of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa expanded to include the north of Sri Lanka as well as some overseas territories. The eventual decline of the realm followed India’s Kalinga Magha usurping the throne in 1215.
Decades of poor rule ultimately led to the capital moving to the city of Dambadeniya (southwest of Polonnaruwa) when King Magha was finally deposed in 1236.
In 1982, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the same year as the sacred city of Anuradhapura and the ancient city of Sigiriya.
Nowadays, Polonnaruwa’s old ruins lie across an expansive area in the north of the new town, surrounded by dense, sprawling, leafy trees and teeming with a plethora of wildlife, including monkeys, peacocks, mongoose, mouse deer and porcupines (to name a few).
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When is the Best Time to Visit Polonnaruwa?
Time | the best time of day to visit Polonnaruwa is in the morning, before the temperature starts rising. If you are planning on hiring a bicycle, it would be wise to arrive when the Archaeological Museum Complex opens.
Temperatures | Polonnaruwa is coolest in December and January, with averages around 29 degrees Celsius ( 84 F). Note that the ‘real feel’ temperature is often in the high 30s, even in these cooler months, and increases to potentially 50 degrees Celsius in the summer.
Rain | from October to December are the wettest months in Polonnaruwa. We visited in December and were very fortunate to time almost our entire visit between two heavy rainfalls!
Crowds | for the quietest, least crowded months in Polonnaruwa, avoid January as it is a very popular month for tourists, along with July and August. During our visit in December, there were very few tuktuks and bicycles inside the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, and we saw almost zero tourists at the individual sites within the ancient city.
ETIQUETTE AND DRESS CODE AT POLONNARUWA
Polonnaruwa is a (predominantly) Buddhist site. This means you should dress and behave respectfully, as per any religious site.
Ensure to cover your shoulders and knees (even for men) and don’t wear tight, provocative, revealing clothing.
Remove your shoes whenever instructed to do so (there are signs). Many sites involve walking outside without footwear, so bring socks – the ground is rough and can be burning hot.
In terms of etiquette, don’t turn your back to the Buddha, and especially avoid turning your back to the Buddha while taking photos.
Don’t point your feet at statues.
Tread lightly around anyone praying at the ancient city – it’s an active religious site.
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How to Get Around Polonnaruwa Ancient City
The drive through the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa is around four and a half kilometres, from the first site at the Royal Palace of King Maha Parakramabahu to the Thivanka Image House near the end. The main road is mostly paved, with some unpaved sections that lead off to the various sites within the park. These can get muddy if it has recently rained, making cycling more difficult.
The distance above does not include any exploring at each individual part of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa on foot, or distances to and from the sites away from the main road.
Time needed | if you are cycling, budget at least half a day – so a minimum of four hours in total inside the ancient city. If you are driving or being driven around Polonnaruwa, this might be a little less. We spent close to four hours at the site (but we did take a stupid number of photographs).
Exit route | there are several ways out that lead back to Polonnaruwa via route A11. It is possible to exit via the main entrance you arrive in or via the exit conveniently located in the northern half of the site on the western side, at 7.965169, 80.998566 on Google Maps. From there, turn left and head south to return to Polonnaruwa town.
By Tuktuk
A great way to see the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is to rent a tuktuk (like we did!). There is no additional charge for driving your own tuktuk (or bicycle) through the site.
By Bicycle
Renting a bicycle is easy – pick one up near the bus station or rent one from your accommodation. Some guesthouses provide these for free and at others we saw with rental prices of 800 LKR per day. The bicycles for rent, just outside the park, are not well reviewed but are the most convenient.
Be aware that it can get really hot in Polonnaruwa, if you are going to cycle, go early!
By Tuktuk Tour
If you’re not keen on the exhaustion of cycling in the Sri Lanka heat and don’t want to drive yourself, consider getting an official tuktuk guide to drive you. Pick up a guide at the Museum when you buy your ticket.
We were advised that the going rate for a Polonnaruwa guide is around $30.
PLANNING A SRI LANKA TRIP?
Have a quick peek to see if any of our other Sri Lanka posts might be helpful:
How to explore Mihintale – Sri Lanka’s most sacred Buddhist site
Is it smart to drive Sri Lanka’s Elephant Road?
Is the Pidurangala Rock hike worth it?
Everything you need to know about backpacking in Sri Lanka
The monster three week Sri Lanka itinerary
How to rent a tuktuk in Sri Lanka – realities of driving a cranky rust bucket
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Ancient City of Polonnaruwa Map
Whilst not an exhaustive list, we felt that these particular sites below were some of the more impressive ones we saw at the ancient city of Polonnaruwa (listed from south to north).
The highlights of our Polonnaruwa visit are marked on the Google Map below in coloured zones (plus entrances, ticket offices and parking).
◊ To save the map to your Google Maps, click on the star icon by the title.
◊ Select the screen icon in the top left to show or hide the breakdown of sections/zones.
◊ Click on a tick box to hide/show a section.
What to See in Polonnaruwa Ancient City
Everything below is included on the Google Map above, in its applicable zone colour.
Outside the Ancient City
Palace Complex of King Nissanka Malla | located behind the Archaeological Museum Complex, adjacent to where we stayed on the lake, the complex is worth popping into considering its convenient location next to where you buy tickets.
This site contains the remains of a two-storey palace, its main hall, a bathing pool, council chamber, and remnants of several other structures.
Far South of the Ancient City (Yellow Zone)
Royal Palace of King Maha Parakramabahu | shockingly, this originally housed a thousand rooms across seven storeys (which my little brain cannot quite comprehend). This grand, twelfth century palace was destroyed two centuries later by Chola invaders from South India. The remaining walls left me with a sense of grandness as we wandered around – they’re pretty high!
Council Chamber | a principal building for the Sri Lankan administration in the twelfth century, this intricately carved, slab-like construction is 23 metres (75 feet) long and consisted of three, animal-adorned tiers. Each level is distinctive and is surprisingly well preserved.
Kumara Pokuna (named 32 (Pond) on Google) | one of many ponds and waterways built over 800 years ago by King Parakramabahu the Great (who was responsible for expanding and enhancing the capital during his three-decade rule). This particular pond was used by the royals for bathing and even had a changing room beside it.
Central South of the Ancient City (Blue Zone)
This area is named the Sacred Quadrangle (Dalada Maluva) – an exceptional area containing several ruins, including shrines, statues and temples. The notable ones include the Vatadage, Hetadage, Thuparamaya and Sathmahal Prasadaya, briefly described below. There is ample space for parking across the road, with some food and drink stalls if you’re in need of a break.
Vatadage | this was originally built to store the tooth of Buddha (which is now in Kandy). Short staircases lead up to a raised inner level, where four statues of Buddha sit at the cardinal points. A wooden roof originally covered the circular Vatadage but no longer remains. As it’s a religious site, you’ll need to take your shoes off to go up the stairs to the Buddha statues.
Thuparamaya Image House | this impressive structure has walls up to two-metres thick and utilises the ‘Gedige’ architectural style (named for the famed ancient stone temple, Nalanda Gedige, which you can visit between Dambulla and Kandy). When we visited, the Buddhist image house was under renovation, however one, highly detailed, elaborate face remained uncovered outside.
Hetadage | this was a purpose-built structure to house the tooth of Buddha, taking over the role from the Vatadage which lies opposite. It used to be a two-storey building but now only the first level, with its shrine to the Buddha, remains.
Sathmahal Prasadaya | in the northeast of the Dalada Maluva lies this intricately designed, seven-storey pyramid shaped stupa from the twelfth century. It was one of my personal favourite structures in the ancient city and reminded me of a miniature Tikal-style Mayan ruin.
WHAT IS AN IMAGE HOUSE?
An image house (also known as a Pathimagara) is a kind of temple which enshrines a statue of the Buddha at its centre. Most image houses are built with a secondary exit near the front entrance, allowing the Buddhist faithful to never turn their back on Buddha.
These are commonly found across Sri Lanka, with several in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa.
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Central Area of the Ancient City (Green Zone)
Pabalu Vehera (Temple of Marbles) | named for the many glass beads found during excavation work, this unpainted, oddly shaped (and originally) two-storied stupa is unusual as it was built with nine image houses surrounding it, instead of the usual four. It’s slightly off the main road and felt a little more isolated than some of the other sites and we also saw our first grey langur here!
Vishnu Devale No. 2 (Vishnu Kovil) | a rare, small-ish statue of Vishnu, one of the main gods of Hinduism, lies on show in the unassuming remains of this temple.
Polonnaruwa Siva Devale No. 2 | this is one of the two best preserved Hindu temples we saw at Polonnaruwa (some of them are basically just pillars and stone slabs). It was built solely using stone during the period of South Indian Chola rule (11th to 13th century).
Menik Vehera Complex | smaller than the Sacred Quadrangle, this moss-covered, eighth-century site consists of a small (considering the unusually high platform it’s sat on) stupa and two image houses along with evidence of an ancient monastery. This area had some friendly dogs.
Central North Area of the Ancient City (Orange Zone)
Rankoth Vehera | located in a square terrace with a thick brick wall perimeter, sandy paths lead to entrances at the four cardinal points. We learned from another visitor that apparently Rankoth Vehera is the fourth largest stupa in Sri Lanka! It’s also entirely made of brick, 59 metres in diameter and measures about 33 metres high (it’s been said that, initially, it was closer to 60 metres before renovations somehow reduced it in height?). You can buy flowers as offerings near the entrance.
Lankatilaka Temple | another structure designed in the ‘Gedige’ style, initially five storeys high. Even without a head, the 12-metre-high statue nestled inside the ruins of this twelfth century image house was super impressive! Stand on the slab of pillars directly facing the statue for best views!
Kiri Vehera | the lime white exterior of this 24.5-metre-high stupa contrasts strongly with all its brick-built neighbours, making it a starkly different sight in its jungle surrounds. It is the best preserved and second largest stupa within Polonnaruwa.
Uththararamaya (Gal Vihara) | one of our favourites, this site features a collection of four, near immaculate, large stone Buddhas all carved from a single slab of granite, reached along a short, pretty walk adjacent to a large pond. You’ll need to take your shoes off to walk near the statues, so be aware, and bring socks if it is hot!
This was the busiest site in the ancient city, with lots of people delivering offerings. It was also taken very seriously, with warnings about appropriate behaviour and clothing, a ticket-check booth and cordons to stop people walking around.
Northern Area of the Ancient City (Red Zone)
Thivanka Image House | this huge structure has walls up to 12 feet thick in places, making the inside much smaller than it might seem from the outside! The exterior is covered in hundreds of astonishingly detailed, individually unique stone carvings. Each little person has its own distinct characteristics and is quite entertaining!
Inside, as with other image houses, is a statue of Buddha and some wall paintings, but to preserve these, photos are forbidden inside. Thivanka is currently under renovation (apparently, it’s been going on forever), so you can see the restoration work in action.
WHERE TO STAY IN POLONNARUWA
Many people day trip to Polonnaruwa to visit the ancient city, from cities like Sigiriya or Dambulla.
However, we went a bit posh on this bit of our trip and stayed overnight in the Ekho Lakehouse, right on the lakefront, adjacent to the Archaeological Museum where you buy entry tickets. We even saw elephants across Bendiwewa lake from our patio, and one of the best sunsets ever!
The rooms are classically designed (I think Queen Elizabeth II stayed here at some point, so it’s all, like, classy colonial, which is how I’d describe it anyway).
This Polonnaruwa hotel has outstanding service (the kind I’m really not used to on our usual budget). I got an amazing cold shot glass of some kind of (possibly) tamarind and fruit juice on arrival and our room had little freshly baked wood apple cakes. It was a beautiful setting (also, try wood apple on your Sri Lanka trip, they’re weird and not apple-like at all!).
The hotel also does traditional afternoon tea with accompanying views of the lake.
If you’re on a bit more of a budget and want to stay in Polonnaruwa town, we recommend Radha Tourist Home. It’s the place we would have stayed if we didn’t cave and spend *all* the money. It has excellent reviews, bike rentals, decent breakfast, a perfect location, friendly owners and spot on price point.
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EXPLORING MIHINTALE | DRIVING ELEPHANT ROAD
Day Tripping to Polonnaruwa Ancient City
If you choose to day trip to Polonnaruwa instead of staying overnight, we recommend staying in either Sigiriya or Dambulla.
Sigiriya (58 kilometres from Polonnaruwa) | we recommend The Nature Park Villa and Sigiri Shen Residence, as both were great value for money, had super-lovely staff and we’d happily stay in either next time we visit.
Dambulla (70 kilometres from Polonnaruwa) | is the least appealing of the options in our opinion, but is pretty central for visiting Sigiriya, Mihintale and Anuradhapura, as well as being on the route to or from Kandy. We recommend the Dambulla Rock Arch, as it’s the best option of the bunch.
THINGS TO BRING TO POLONNARUWA
Polonnaruwa is a pretty typical tourist site in Sri Lanka, so there’s nothing overly outlandish on this list.
Just remember, it’s very hot and the site is large. It’s also home to quite a few Buddhist sites so appropriate clothing is necessary. Here are a few things we’d suggest:
Hat | it’s so hot (and sunny, sometimes)
Bug spray | we didn’t need it, but you might
Sunblock | it’s quite an exposed site
Shoes | that are comfy but easy to remove
Socks | the ground can be very warm
Sarong, sensible clothes | for the Buddhist sites
Water and a snack or two | sightseeing makes me peckish
Umbrella | because Sri Lanka is perpetually damp, and one is useful for the sun and defending your food from monkeys
Cash | if you want souvenirs, fruit or drinks from the small vendors
Something waterproof | to keep your ticket dry (it gets checked periodically within the site and on exit)
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RELATED REGION | BACKPACKING THE MALDIVES ON A BUDGET
Places to Eat in Polonnaruwa
So, as we went super high-end with our accommodation, we ate the most affordable food we could find in Polonnaruwa! This is not a bad thing though because we found that the more affordable, the better the food, everywhere in Sri Lanka.
We should actually plot the quality of the food with price and you’ll see a very strong negative correlation between the two (as the quality goes up, the price goes down).
We had several meals during our time here and recommend everything:
Kadamandiya Family Restaurant | a local buffet style restaurant which served up multiple vegetable curries for a really affordable price.
Mihiri Foods | a very unassuming hole-in-the-wall takeaway joint which did huge, inexpensive portions of curried vegetables and rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a guide for the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa?
There is no requirement for a guide at the Polonnaruwa site.
Does Polonnaruwa get crowded?
Yes, at peak season during the middle of the day, Polonnaruwa Ancient City can get busy.
Arrive early to avoid crowds.
How long do I need at the ancient city?
To explore Polonnaruwa, you may need up to half a day. It will be longer if you cycle, shorter if you have a motorised vehicle.
Can I pay by card at Polonnaruwa?
Yes, you can purchase your Polonnaruwa entry ticket using card.
What is the best month to visit Polonnaruwa?
The best months to visit Polonnaruwa are December and January for lower temperatures, and during summer months for the least rain.
Is the Polonnaruwa Museum Complex worth visiting?
Yes, the museum is worth visiting! It explains a lot of the city’s history, plus has scale models and relics, with explanations in English.
Is Polonnaruwa worth the ticket price?
Yes, we think Polonnaruwa was definitely worth the ticket price. UNESCO sites in Sri Lanka are typically quite pricey, however this was our favourite and it felt worth the money.
Is there a charge for parking at Polonnaruwa?
No, there are no parking charges at Polonnaruwa.
GETTING AROUND SRI LANKA
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Final Thoughts – Visiting the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa
Arriving at the airport in Sri Lanka, I was randomly looking through images of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. The kingdom felt wildly familiar to me, although I’m not actually sure why. It’s less towering and grand than some other, similar ruins, but it’s intricate, sprawling and jungle-clad – just the way I like it. It’s an absolute smasher of a day out – worth the fees and effort!
Polonnaruwa was a highlight of the Cultural Triangle, and Sri Lanka as a whole, for me – a kingdom steeped in history and splendor without any of the negatives that accompany many of the more famous sites. There was very little hassle, the site was peaceful, it was easy to traverse (totally flat!) and we also loved the town and surrounding area. Honestly, from all the media I’d consumed over the past months, I was expecting to love Sigiriya and Anuradhapura far more.
Typically, I was incorrect.
Our stay included so many beautiful moments, both inside and outside the ancient kingdom, so we are very grateful to have spent some extended time here. From the exquisite sunset and free fruit given to us by off-duty police, to complimentary wood apple cakes and elephant sightings, it was an all-around engaging and entertaining time. We’d thoroughly recommend.
We hope this Polonnaruwa guide proves useful and you have an incredible trip to Sri Lanka – it’s one-of-a-kind.
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