Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa was Sri Lanka's second ancient capital, flourishing between the 11th and 13th centuries after the fall of Anuradhapura. Today it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site with some of the best-preserved ruins on the island, including royal palaces, moated gardens, and monumental dagobas.

The highlight for most visitors is the Gal Vihara, a group of four Buddha statues carved directly into a single granite rock face, considered among the finest examples of ancient Sinhalese sculpture.