Polonnaruwa was Sri Lanka's royal capital from the 11th to the 13th century, and its ruins are among the best preserved of the island's ancient cities. Palaces, temples and giant statues are spread across a compact, shaded site beside a vast man-made reservoir, and together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Like the rest of the Cultural Triangle, Polonnaruwa is generally driest from about February to September. Explore early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and consider doing it by bicycle: the site is flat and the monuments are spread out.
A full day is enough for the ruins. Polonnaruwa is about an hour's drive from Sigiriya, and pairs well with an afternoon jeep safari in Minneriya or Kaudulla National Park, where large herds of elephants gather in the dry season.
Every tour can be tailored — combine it with other destinations, add nights or change the pace.
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Climb the Sigiriya rock fortress, explore the carved sanctuaries of Polonnaruwa and pay respects at Kandy's Temple of the Tooth on a 4-day journey through Sri Lanka's UNESCO heartland.
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