Polonnaruwa
Ruins of a 12th-century royal city in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle, with brick shrines, a large reservoir and three carved Buddhas at Gal Vihara.
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Polonnaruwa is a ruined medieval city in Sri Lanka's North Central Province, and it was the island's capital after Anuradhapura. King Parakramabahu I, who ruled in the 12th century, built it up as a royal city of palaces, monasteries and shrines, and the large Parakrama Samudra reservoir lies beside it. The main ruins sit in the Sacred Quadrangle, where the Vatadage and the Thuparama stand among brick and stone buildings. Gal Vihara is the other highlight: three Buddha figures, standing, seated and reclining, cut from one granite rock face.
Go for the stone ruins and the Gal Vihara carvings, especially if you are touring the Cultural Triangle. Sigiriya is one of the nearest sites to pair with it, and Dambulla and Anuradhapura are also within reach by road. The drier months, roughly February to July, suit walking among the ruins.
Polonnaruwa in five
- Get an ETA before you flyMost visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorisation before arrival. Apply on the official site, eta.gov.lk, and save the approval on your phone.Visas and entry
- Hire a bicycle for the ruinsThe ruins cover several kilometres, so a bicycle or a tuk-tuk for the day is the usual way around. Carry water and a hat; much of the path is open to the sun.
- See Gal Vihara firstGal Vihara has three large Buddha figures carved into one granite rock face. Go in the morning, before the midday heat, and save the rest of the site for later.
- Carry rupees in small notesTuk-tuk drivers, bicycle hire and roadside stalls may only take cash in small rupee notes. Change larger notes in town before you head out to the ruins.
- Book a transfer from the hub townsHabarana and Dambulla are the usual starting points, about an hour away by road. Agree the driver and pick-up time the day before.Getting around
Things to do in Polonnaruwa
See all attractions in Polonnaruwa
Need to know
- Currency
- Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
- Entry
- ETA needed by most visitors; check eta.gov.lk before you book Read more
- Emergency
- 119 police, 110 fire, 1990 ambulance
- Tipping
- Small tips are welcome; check the bill for a service charge
- Time
- UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low20°Dry, coolerJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low20°Dry, warmFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warm
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, dryMarchRain
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AprilRain18 rainy daysHigh33°Low23°Hot, stormsAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Hot, stormsMayRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 167 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, storms
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotJunePartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 24 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- JulyPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Dry, hotJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AugustPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, hotAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°Dry, hotSeptemberRain
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- OctoberRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Rains beginOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 248 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains begin
- NovemberRain25 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Rainy, coolerNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 432 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, cooler
- DecemberRain22 rainy daysHigh28°Low21°Rainy seasonDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 236 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
Average daily high and low in Polonnaruwa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Polonnaruwa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 92%
Polonnaruwa
02:11 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°24°92%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 92%.
- Wed31°24°97%Wednesday: Rain. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 97%.
- Thu30°24°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri30°23°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat31°23°100%Saturday: Rain. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun30°23°100%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 01:43 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 332.4 LKR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Sigiriyaabout 1 hour by roadA rock fortress with old frescoes and water gardens.
- Dambullaabout 1 hour by roadCave temples with Buddhist murals and statues.
- Anuradhapuraabout 1 to 1.5 hours by roadSri Lanka's earlier capital, known for its stupas and monasteries.
Before you go to Polonnaruwa
Rules for Polonnaruwa, checked
- Most visitors need an ETA before arrival. Check the rules on the official ETA site before you book flights.Source
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples and stupas, and remove shoes before entering shrine halls.
- Do not climb on stupas or point your feet at Buddha statues. Photograph the statues from the path.
- Declare cash above the legal limit on arrival. Check the current amount with Sri Lanka Customs before you travel.
Plan around Polonnaruwa
Country page for a wider trip around the island
Read the guideEntry rules for Sri LankaETA and what to check before you book flights
Read the guideGetting around the Cultural TriangleTransfers and drivers from Habarana, Dambulla and Anuradhapura
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices in rupees
Read the guideWhere to sleepStay in Polonnaruwa town or in the hub towns nearby
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMaps and transfer times on the road
Read the guidePolonnaruwa FAQ
How do you get to Polonnaruwa?
Most travellers go by car or bus from Habarana, Dambulla or Anuradhapura, about an hour away by road. The road from Colombo is long, so if you come that way, plan an overnight stop in a hub town.
How many days do you need in Polonnaruwa?
Most visitors plan one full day for the main ruins. Stay a second night if you also want the smaller sites or the reservoir.
Can you visit Polonnaruwa on a day trip?
Yes, from Habarana or Dambulla, about an hour each way by road. Start early so you finish the ruins before the midday heat.
Is Polonnaruwa worth visiting?
Yes, if you want medieval brick and stone ruins and the Gal Vihara carvings. It suits a traveler with a day to spare on a Cultural Triangle route.
When is the best time to visit Polonnaruwa?
January and February, and July and August, are the drier months. October to December is the wetter period across much of the north-east.
Is Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura better?
Anuradhapura is older and was the island's capital for far longer. Polonnaruwa is smaller and easier to cover by bicycle, so do both if you have two days.