Polonnaruwa was the second Capital of the country in the 11^th century after Anuradhapura and represented the zenith of the hydraulic civilization of Sri Lanka. Polonnaruwa was used as a secondary capital city during the latter half of the Anuradhapura period where it also became the royal residence of few Kings in the 7^th and 9^th centuries. The South Indian Cholar Empire which conquered Anuradhapura in 1017 AD established Polonnaruwa as their center of administration where it was ruled by a Viceroy; the ruined Shiva Devala No. 01 found within the ancient city was built during the Cholar rule. In 1070 the country was liberated by King Vijayabahu I and he chose Polonnaruwa or Pulasthinagara as it was also known, as his Capital city. Polonnaruwa remained the Capital for another 145 years until it fell once again to South Indian invaders in 1215 AD.

The inner city of Polonnaruwa is rectangular in form and is surrounded by a rampart with the Parakramasamudraya or Sea of Parakrama bordering it on the west; within it are found the Palace complex containing the royal Palace of Parakramabahu, the Audience hall and the Kumara Pokuna or Prince Pond and to the west of the Palace complex bordering the Parakramasamudraya tank is the Deepa Uyana with the remains of the Palace and Audience hall of King Nissankamalla. Further within the inner city is found the sacred quadrangle within which are found the ancient Temple of the Tooth relic and other religious monuments such as the Polonnaruwa Watadage, Hatadage, Atadage, Thuparama Image house etc. To the south of the inner city can be found the Pothgul Viharaya and to the north of the city is the massive Alahana Pirivena complex, the Rankoth Vehera, Kiri Vehera, the Lankathilaka Image house, the Gal Viharaya, the Demala Maha Seya and the Thiwanka Image house. Much of these ruins are in a good state of preservation and offer an invaluable insight into the ancient architecture of the period. The ancient city of Polonnaruwa was made a World Heritage Site in 1982.