Home > Destination > Sri Lanka > Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa

A UNESCO heritage site with a population of monkeys

Once a capital of the historic kingdom of Polonnaruwa, the present-day city has been classified as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The ancient city is one of the best planned archaeological relic sites in the country, standing testimony to the discipline and greatness of the Kingdom’s first rulers. Another draw for tourists is the city’s population of toque macaques. The monkeys have been living in the ruins since human occupation and continued to thrive here long after the humans left.

Image credits: Indi Samarajiva, CC-BY-2.0

Related Destinations

Places of interest to weave into your itinerary

Anuradhapura

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Bentota

A coastal destination with a plethora of activities

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Colombo

Sri Lanka's bustling trade capital

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Dambulla

Sri Lanka's best preserved cave temples

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Galle

A shoreside walled bastion

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Hatton

Sri Lanka's indigenous tea plantations

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Kandy

An ancient capital & a present-day Buddhist pilgrimage site

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Mulkirigala

The site of an ancient monastic library

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Sigiriya

Site of the 'Lion Rock' fortress

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Sinharaja Forest

Sri Lanka's last swathes of rainforests

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Tangalle

A coastal fishing town where turtles breed

Beyond India

Sri Lanka
Yala

Sri Lanka's varied biodiversity haven

Beyond India

Sri Lanka