Thursday, November 6, 2014

Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka



This is seriously a throwback Thursday post.. but who cares? I will still share it! :)

On a January a few years ago.. We spent 4 days in Sri Lanka.

It is a very interesting country, and although we saw so many sights in 4 days, I believe it deserves more time. 

We were always on the road, and moving to a different hotel each night. It may sound like a normal road trip, but the drives were too long. Our hotels were really nice, but we didn't have enough time to just enjoy them.

If I could turn back time and redo that whole trip, I would say at least 7 days would be great! :)

For now, let me share our first day..

Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo, Sri Lanka

Since we arrived at night and only saw darkness.. we were surprised to wake up to this sight :)

Browns Beach Hotel, Negombo, Sri Lanka

Browns Beach Hotel in Negombo.. 35 minutes away from Colombo..

Unfortunately, we had no time to swim due to our tight schedule..

Standing Buddha, Sri Lanka

A standing Buddha along the way..

Well.. they actually had so many Buddha statues everywhere..

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Negombo to Polonnaruwa.. Almost 4 hours..

Tuk Tuk, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

No.. this wasn't our ride for 4 hours.. hahaha! :)

This is a Tuk Tuk.. one of their modes of transportation..

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Finally here at the ruins of this ancient city..

One of the 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka.. 

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

My sister planned this whole trip, and I just tagged along..

So believe me, I also had no idea this place existed! ;)

Polonnaruwa..

The second most ancient kingdom of Sri Lanka..

Dalada-Maluwa, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

When the Chola invaders from South India were defeated by King Vijayabahu I in the 11th century,  he moved the capital city of the country to this place.. and then King Parakramabahu I made it flourish..

Council Chamber, Royal Palace, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Council Chamber.. where the throne of the King used to be..

Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sri Lanka

Vatadage.. built to protect a small stupa in the middle.. believed to hold the alms bowl used by, or the tooth relic of the Buddha..

Polonnaruwa Vatadage, Sri Lanka

Atadage, Tooth Relic Temple, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Atadage.. house of the tooth relic of the Buddha.. built on 54 stone pillars..

Ok.. Actually, I did not listen to our tour guide.. and never really remembered all these..
But I have to put captions on these unknown pictures.. so thank God there's Wikipedia! :)

Atadage, Tooth Relic Temple, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Pillars with inscriptions.. and a standing Buddha statue..

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Nissanka Latha Mandapaya.. where King Nissanka Malla listened to chantings of Buddhist scriptures..

Hatadage, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Hatadage.. a shrine, also to house the tooth relic of the Buddha..

I promise.. only a few more foreign languages and kings and Buddhas left!!

Royal Palace, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Royal Palace of King Parakumba.. destroyed and burned by South Indian invaders in the 13th century..

The building used to be 7 stories high.. but only remains of the 3 stories are left..


And as I have warned.. this is a throwback Thursday post.. so please forgive our outfits :p

Rankoth Vehera, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Rankoth Vehera.. the gold pinnacled stupa built by King Nissanka Malla in the 12th century.. 

Lankathilaka Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Lankathilaka Vihara.. an image house with massive pillars.. and a statue of a Buddha that is now headless..

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

And statues again.. and again.. and again..

I should admit it now.. I am not really into this kind of ruins and history..
I hated history class in school because.. I don't really care about those kings and wars.. hehe :p

But I don't omit these places when I travel because who knows? Something might amaze me..
And I will also continue to share them because.. the bimbo in me might not be able to appreciate.. but other people can :) 

Kumara Pokuna, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Last one!

Kumara Pokuna.. the royal bathing pond where the ladies bathed in the evening..

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

And that's it for today! :)

Off to a long drive to the next hotel...

2 comments:

  1. Wow, nice pictures of Sri Lanka. It is really happy to see and feel your good impressions about our country. I think you have enjoyed much in Sri Lanka. Great post and you are welcome to my G+ community. :) Come again to visit Sri Lanka.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Ravi! Your country is beautiful! :)

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