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..

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

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

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

A standing Buddha along the way..

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

Negombo to Polonnaruwa.. Almost 4 hours..

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

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

Finally here at the ruins of this ancient city..

One of the 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 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..

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

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..

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! :)

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

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

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

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

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 :) 

Last one!

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

And that's it for today! :)

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