Polonnaruva was an ancient Sri Lankan capital that became a residence of Ceylon's kings in the fourth century CE and flourished owing to its proximity to the Mahaweli River and its location on the route to southern Sri Lanka, east of the central highlands. It became a second capital in the eighth century and succeeded Anuradhapura as the sole capital after the destruction of that city in 993. The invading Cholas made Polonnaruva their capital, as did the Sinhalese who overthrew them. The city reached its height under King Parakramabahu I (reigned 1153–1186), who built a walled city containing extensive gardens, monastic and temple complexes, and many monuments in brick and stone, all watered by a vast man-made lake. It was deserted in the thirteenth century after a series of invasions and the spread of malaria drove the political centers to the coasts. The ruins of monuments built by the Cholas and Parakramabahu I are well preserved. A modern town arose in the twentieth century after the restoration of the ancient irrigation reservoirs and the suppression of malaria. It has become a major tourist destination and in 1982 was named to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Further Reading
Saparamadu, S. D., ed. (1995) The Polonnaruva Period. Special Number on the Polonnaruva Period issued in Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of the Accession of King Parakrama Bahu the Great. Ceylon Historical Journal 4.
Smith, Bardwell. (1986) "The Pursuit of Equilibrium: Polonnaruwa as a Ceremonial Center." Journal of Developing Societies 2: 193–207.
This is the complete article, containing 247 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
