Over 1000 years ago kings ruled Sri Lanka from Polonnaruwa and was a thriving commercial center. A self-sustaining dynasty where kings boasted their culture and literature in every structure built; legendary temples with beautiful details, seven storied palaces with sprawling landscaped gardens, massive monasteries for monks, intricate network of canals and reservoirs suggest a glorious era of ruling.
Today the archaeological park with hundreds of ancient structures remnant from the glory days and the close by national parks with elephants grazing in herds add to the relaxed ambience of Polonnaruwa and worth a trip up there.