Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

• Bring couple of umbrellas and your passport. Foreign tourists get a healthy discount on a pricey entry fee to this city of ruins.
• You will need a dedicated vehicle for a full day (or two if you are of an archeologistic bend of mind) to nail this one. It is so huge.
• Sleeping Buddha is the star attraction although for me the Pabalu Vehera was the one appreciated the most. We found a spot here where our voice was echoing in open.

The ruins of Polonnaruwa are famous. The fact that an entire city dedicated to the worship of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka was astonishing for us coming from India. It was this curiosity and the fame that drew us to the ruined city on the very first day of our stay in the central province. The one hour drive from Sigiriya was pleasant and scenic. We came across a massive Buddha statue beside a lake on the way which set the tone for the city.

Parakramaabahu Palace Complex, Polonnaruwa

When we reached Polonnaruwa, it was pouring hard and from the way of it, the rains were not going to stop any sooner. We had to buy an umbrella to cover ourselves. Even then the slippery water-filled paths were a deterrent. However once we covered the first few spots, we learned that this was something special and the enthusiasm took over. Polonnaruwa is basically divided into twelve big pieces, each containing a showstopper artefact worth stopping.

Pabalu Vehera, Polonnaruwa

We covered three major ones. We were told it would take multiple days to cover all that this city had. We were happy with the major ones and started with Parakramabahu Palace Complex. The pillars are almost intact but everything else is worn off. Still the structure standing for so long and imposing, leave an impression. The heavy downpour only added to the beauty. Our umbrellas were saving us but we decided to move on as there was much to cover.

Galpotha Rock, Polonnaruwa

Our next stop was Pabalu Vehera which is an ornate multilayered temple of Lord Buddha. The setup is unique with smaller temples around it. Within the Vehera, four bodhi statues facing four directions sit in a circle. There are spots that echo within the structure which was surprising since most of the walls and all of the roof are gone long time ago. The Galpotha rock inscriptions beside the temple was equally fascinating and a treasure of information for archeologists.

Rankot Vehera, Polonnaruwa

Our next stop was Rankot Vehera. It is a massive black stupa of Lord Buddha, many times bigger than the ones we saw couple of years ago in Sanchi. The rains and open space around the stupa made it look bigger and intimidating. We also visited nearby white stupa and took few photographs in the heavy rains. The next destination was the most visited part of Polonnaruwa and we could see crowds moving towards it.

Sitting Buddha, Uttararama

Uttararama is a set of Buddha statues all carved from one rock and all in different positions. They are sacred and worshipped. The path is cleverly made so one does not have a view at once. All statues are massive in size and have linings that is characteristic of hills in these areas. There is even a viewpoint. It is considered sinful to show your back to the great Buddha specially while you take photographs. We followed the protocols and took pictures sideways.

Sleeping Buddha, Uttararama

We were drenched when we were returning. Still a lunch was in calling and we stopped at a roadside restaurant for local food. We tried hoppers and found them so delicious that we packed a couple in our bags as well. By the time we came back, we were dead tired and ready for a good night sleep. Next day we had to climb the Sigiriya Rock and we didn't want to wake up late.