Date: 9/6/2013
Polonnaruwa is a town. It's the main town of Polonnaruwa District in the North Central Province, Sri Lanka. Kaduruwela area is the Polonnaruwa New Town and the other part of Polonnaruwa, remains as the royal ancient city of polonnaru kingdom.
At the World Heritage Site of Polonnaruwa, ruins of an ancient city lay sprawling along the edge of a large lake. King Vijayabahu first made it the capital of a Sinhalese kingdom, relocating here from Anuradhapura in 1055. In the golden age of King Parakramabahu I (1153 -1186) the city was expanded enormously, and gloriously transformed with the addition of palaces, temples, monasteries, ornamental ponds, baths, and a huge tank (reservoir) covering over 2,500 hectares.
Potgul Vihara Monastery lies about a hundred yards to the South of the rock sculpture. It is a unique monastery. It is believed, that this was built by King Parakramabahu. Potgul Vihara is the modern name by which the southern monastery in Polonnaruwa is known, but it's ancient name has not been established. The superb sculpture is also mysterious. It is generally considered to be a representation of Parakramabahu the Great. Other opinions however, identify the figure as that of a sage. Whoever that it may represent, the sculpture is one of the great masterpieces of Sri Lankan art.
Today, if you enter the round room, which is plastered, the acoustics are still excellent, even though the roof has collapsed.
Potgul Vihara statue- a 4m tall statue of a male. Various suggestions have been made
regarding who he is supposed to be – possibly King Parakramabahu I
The unusual ruin of a hollow, circular gedige in the dead centre of the reserve; rather than a place of worship or meditation, it is thought to have been instead used to store sacred books. Evidence shows the inner walls contained paintings.
The ruin of the library shrine gedige - thought to be the oldest library complex in the country
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