Cultural Triangle · North Central Province
Polonnaruwa Ancient City,
Sri Lanka
Royal palaces, round relic houses and giant Buddhas carved from living rock, in the medieval capital of the island. See it all on a private Polonnaruwa city tour from Colombo, Kandy or Sigiriya.
UNESCO World HeritageAncient City of Polonnaruwa, listed 1982
Polonnaruwa, Sri LankaNorth Central Province
About 3 to 4 hoursto see the main ruins
Open every dayAbout 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
The medieval capital
A royal city
beside a great lake
Polonnaruwa became the capital of Sri Lanka in the 11th century, after the fall of Anuradhapura, and reached its peak under King Parakramabahu the Great. He filled the city with palaces, monasteries and audience halls, and built the vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir that still waters the rice fields today.
Today the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spread over several kilometres of parkland. It is compact enough to explore in a morning, and quieter than many visitors expect, with troops of monkeys among the ruins.
A private Polonnaruwa city tour with your own driver is the easiest way to see it: you move between the ruins by car, bicycle or tuk-tuk, and can combine the city with Sigiriya Rock, the Dambulla Cave Temple or an elephant safari on the same day.
Plan your day
Three easy starting points
From Colombo or Negombo
A full day with Sigiriya included, about 4.5 hours each way.
From Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana
Only an hour away, with an optional elephant safari.
From Kandy
About 3 hours each way, through the Cultural Triangle.
Among the ruins
What you will see
in Polonnaruwa
01 / The citadel
Royal Palace
The remains of King Parakramabahu’s palace, once seven storeys high, with the Council Chamber and its lion-carved steps nearby.
02 / The Quadrangle
The Vatadage
A round relic house ringed by moonstones and guard stones, the finest of the sacred buildings in the Quadrangle.
03 / Rock-cut art
Gal Vihara
Four great Buddha statues carved from a single granite wall, including a 14-metre reclining Buddha.
04 / The northern temples
Lankatilaka
A towering brick image house with a headless standing Buddha, next to the white Kiri Vehera stupa.
05 / The great stupa
Rankoth Vehera
The largest stupa in Polonnaruwa, about 55 metres tall, built in the 12th century by King Nissanka Malla.
06 / The lake
Parakrama Samudra
The king’s “sea”, a huge reservoir on the western edge of the city, with a stone statue thought to show Parakramabahu.
Through the centuries
How Polonnaruwa
rose and fell
King Vijayabahu I made Polonnaruwa his capital after driving out the Chola invaders, and under Parakramabahu the Great it became one of the finest cities in South Asia. After repeated invasions in the 13th century the capital moved away, and the jungle slowly covered the ruins until they were cleared and studied in modern times.
1070Vijayabahu I makes it the capital
1153Parakramabahu the Great begins his reign
1982Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa is one of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka, alongside nearby Sigiriya and Dambulla.
Practical tips
Polonnaruwa city tour:
how to see the ruins
The ruins stretch for about 4 km from south to north, so most visitors move between them by car, bicycle or tuk-tuk. A good route runs from the museum to the Royal Palace, the Quadrangle, Rankoth Vehera, Lankatilaka and finally Gal Vihara.
- Opening hours: about 7:30 am to 6:00 pm every day. One ticket covers the museum and the main ruins.
- Time needed: allow 3 to 4 hours for the main sites at a relaxed pace.
- Getting around: your driver moves the car between the sites, or rent a bicycle for the flat, shady roads.
- Dress code: cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes and hat at the temples and Gal Vihara.
- Best time: go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat.
- Watch the monkeys: keep food out of sight; the toque macaques here are bold.
By bicycle
A city tour on two wheels
Polonnaruwa is flat and shady, which makes it one of the best places in Sri Lanka to explore by bicycle. Ask us to arrange bikes and we will meet you with the car at the end.
Book your day out
Polonnaruwa tours
& day tours
Whether you want a short Polonnaruwa day tour or a long day out from the coast, every trip we arrange is private, with your own air-conditioned car or van, an English-speaking driver and hotel pickup. Choose where you are starting from.
Departing Colombo or Negombo
Colombo to Polonnaruwa day trip
From US$160 per car
A full day to the ancient city and Sigiriya Rock, with a free stop at the Dambulla Cave Temple on the way back.
- Pickup at 6:30 or 7:00 am
- Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya in one day
- Free optional Dambulla stop
Departing Sigiriya, Dambulla or Habarana
Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa tour
From US$100 per car
A relaxed morning in Polonnaruwa, only an hour from Sigiriya, with an optional afternoon elephant safari.
- Hotel pickup at 8:00 am
- About 3 to 4 hours among the ruins
- Optional Minneriya safari (+US$60)
Departing Kandy
Polonnaruwa day trip from Kandy
From US$130 per car
A day trip north from Kandy to the ancient city and back, through the heart of the Cultural Triangle.
- Pickup at 6:30 or 7:00 am
- About 3 hours each way
- Private car or van with an English-speaking driver
Entrance tickets, meals and safari jeeps are not included unless stated. Pay on the day of the tour or in full in advance, with free cancellation until 24 hours before pickup.
Around Polonnaruwa
Make a full day of it
30 minutes away
Minneriya safari
Wild elephant herds around an ancient tank, best in the afternoon. Minneriya National Park
1 hour away
Sigiriya Rock
The 5th-century rock fortress with its famous frescoes and Lion Gate. Sigiriya Rock Fortress
1.25 hours away
Dambulla Cave Temple
Five painted caves filled with Buddha statues, another UNESCO site. Dambulla
Good to know
Your Polonnaruwa questions, answered
What is the best time to visit Polonnaruwa?
Polonnaruwa can be visited all year. The driest months are usually May to September. Whatever the season, start early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat.
Can I do a Polonnaruwa day tour?
Yes. Our private Polonnaruwa day tour runs from three places: a Colombo to Polonnaruwa day trip with Sigiriya (from US$160 per car), a Polonnaruwa day trip from Kandy (from US$130) and a Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa tour (from US$100). Each includes hotel pickup in your own air-conditioned car or van.
How long does a Polonnaruwa city tour take?
Allow 3 to 4 hours to see the main ruins, including the museum, the Royal Palace, the Quadrangle, Lankatilaka and Gal Vihara.
What are the opening hours of the ancient city of Polonnaruwa?
The site is usually open from about 7:30 am to 6:00 pm every day. Buy your ticket at the museum near the Parakrama Samudra before you start.
How much is the Polonnaruwa entrance ticket?
Tickets are sold at the museum, with separate prices for foreign visitors and children. One ticket covers the museum and the main ruins. Prices change from time to time, so we confirm the current price when you book.
What should I wear in Polonnaruwa?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove your shoes and hat at the temples and at Gal Vihara. Bring water, a hat and sunscreen.
Can I explore Polonnaruwa by bicycle?
Yes. The roads between the ruins are flat and shady, which makes a bicycle city tour easy and fun. We can arrange bikes, with your driver meeting you at the end.
How far is Polonnaruwa from Colombo, Kandy and Sigiriya?
About 4.5 hours from Colombo, 3 hours from Kandy, 1 hour from Sigiriya and 45 minutes from Habarana by road.
Can I visit Polonnaruwa as a day tour?
Yes. We run private Polonnaruwa day tours from Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Habarana, with hotel pickup and time to explore at your own pace.
Can NH Lanka Holidays arrange a private Polonnaruwa tour?
Yes. NH Lanka Holidays is a licensed, Sri Lankan-owned tour operator based in Negombo. We arrange your car, driver and hotel pickup, or include Polonnaruwa in a longer private tour. You can pay on the day of the tour or in full in advance, and cancellation is free until 24 hours before pickup.
Keep exploring: Sigiriya · Dambulla · Minneriya National Park · Anuradhapura · Day trips from Colombo · All destinations
Licensed local tour operator
Ready to plan
your Polonnaruwa tour?
Tell us your dates and where you are staying. Our Negombo-based team will reply within 24 hours with a private, itemised quote.