Polonnaruwa, also spelled Poḷonnaruva in Sinhala and Polaṉṉaṟuvai in Tamil, is the main town of the Polonnaruwa District in Sri Lanka's North Central Province. The modern town is sometimes called New Town, while another part of Polonnaruwa remains the ancient royal city of the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa.

Polonnaruwa is the second-oldest kingdom in Sri Lanka. It was first built as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. In the 10th century, the Chola dynasty renamed it Jananathamangalam after capturing the country's previous capital, Anuradhapura. The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa has been recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Etymology

The origin of the name Polonnaruwa is unknown. Its Tamil name, Pulainari, appears in writings from the Chola dynasty found at Polonnaruwa. The name may have been shortened from an older name, Pulastya nagara or Pulatti nakaram, which means "city of the Hindu sage Pulastya."

During Chola rule, the place was renamed Jananathapuram or Jananathamangalam. Later, it was known as Vijayarajapuram, as recorded by Jayabahu I. This name likely came from the name of Vijayabahu I.

Demographic

In Polonnaruwa, the Sinhalese people are the largest group. Muslims are the second largest group. There are also small numbers of Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils. Other groups include Burgher and Malay.

Source: statistics.gov.lk

History

Polonnaruwa was first set up as a military post by the Sinhalese kingdom. Later, the Chola dynasty renamed it Jananathamangalam after they successfully invaded the country in the 10th century. Raja Raja Chola I built a temple called Vanavan Mahadevisvaram, which honored his queen. This temple is now known as Siva Devale. The temple had bronze statues of Ganesha and Parvati. During this time, the northern and central parts of Sri Lanka were ruled directly by the Chola dynasty under Rajendra Chola I. However, by 1070 AD, Chola rule ended, and Polonnaruwa was taken over by Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa, also called Vijayabahu the Great.

Vijayabahu I began his attack from Mahanagakula, south of the Walawe River. He sent three armies to attack Polonnaruwa from three directions. One group moved along the western coast to the port of Mahathittha to stop reinforcements from South India. Later, this group attacked from the northwest. A second army came from the east across Magama to attack from the east. The third and largest group, led by Vijayabahu I himself, moved across the country. Surrounded by these three forces, Polonnaruwa was under siege for seven months until Vijayabahu I’s troops entered the city. In 1070, Vijayabahu I became the ruler of Polonnaruwa. At that time, Sri Lanka was known as Thambapanni.

During the reign of King Parakramabahu the Great, a famous grandson of Vijayabahu I, trade and farming grew strongly. Parakramabahu insisted that no rainwater should be wasted, ensuring all water was used to help the land. Better irrigation systems were built during his rule than those from the Anuradhapura period. These systems still provide water for rice farming during dry seasons in the east. The largest of these systems is the Parakrama Samudra, also called the Sea of Parakrama, which was used as a harbor for large ships through the Mahaweli River. Under Parakramabahu I, the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa was completely self-sufficient.

Except for his immediate successor, Nissankamalla I, the other kings of Polonnaruwa were less strong and often fought among themselves. They also formed more marriage alliances with powerful South Indian kingdoms. These alliances eventually replaced the local royal family. This led to an invasion by Kalinga Magha of the Aryacakravarti dynasty in 1214. The invasion destroyed the major cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa by fire.

Present day

Today, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is considered one of the best-planned archaeological sites in the country. It shows the organization and grandeur of the Kingdom’s early rulers. The city’s beauty was also used as a setting for the Duran Duran music video Save a Prayer in 1982. Polonnaruwa has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Near the ancient city, there is a busy town with many hotels, modern stores, and places to buy everyday items. About 6 km away, along the main road, a newly developed area called "New Town" contains several government buildings. The largest school in the district, Polonnaruwa Royal Central College, is located in the New Town.

Polonnaruwa, the second-largest city in the North Central Province, is known as one of the cleanest and most beautiful cities in the country. Its green environment, ancient monuments, the Parakrama Samudra—a large reservoir built in the 13th century—and a mix of appealing tourist accommodations and friendly locals make it a popular place for visitors.

Another attraction for tourists is the group of toque macaques that live in the ruins. These monkeys have been in the area since humans first settled there and have lived there even after humans left.