Parthenon
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC in thanksgiving for the Greek victory over the Persian invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars.
Ancient Sites Gallery
A collection of ancient site photographs from the archive.
Brazen Palace
Is an ancient, historically significant site built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BC.
Pillers of Thuparamaya
Located within the sacred precinct of Mahamewna park, the Thuparamaya Stupa is the earliest Dagoba to be constructed on the island, dating back to the reign of King Devanampiya Tissa (247-207 BC).
Po Nagar Temple
A stele dated 781 indicates that the Cham King Satyavarman regained power in the area of "Ha-Ra Bridge", and that he restored the devastated temple.
Po Nagar Temple
A stele dated 781 indicates that the Cham King Satyavarman regained power in the area of "Ha-Ra Bridge", and that he restored the devastated temple.
My Son Sanctuary
Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam.
Erechtheion
The Erechtheion was constructed between 421 and 406 BC on the Acropolis of Athens. Its most famous feature is the Porch of the Caryatids, where sculpted female figures serve as architectural columns.
Erechtheion Side View
A side view of the Erechtheion revealing the temple’s asymmetrical design. Built on uneven ground atop the Acropolis, the structure was dedicated to Athena and Poseidon and housed several important religious shrines of ancient Athens.
Parthenon Detail
A close view of the Parthenon, the most celebrated monument of Classical Greece. Dedicated to Athena, it was completed in 432 BC and remains one of the most influential buildings in world architecture.
Gal Viharaya
Gal Viharaya is one of the masterpieces of Sri Lankan rock carving. Created during the reign of King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century, it contains four monumental Buddha statues carved from a single granite outcrop.
Council Chamber
The Council Chamber is believed to have served as a royal audience hall during the reign of King Parakramabahu I. Stone columns and carved elephant balustrades remain among its most distinctive features.
Council Chamber Colonnade
Rows of granite pillars mark the former Council Chamber of King Parakramabahu I. These columns once supported a timber roof above a royal assembly hall where state affairs and ceremonial gatherings were conducted.
Lion Guardstones
Stone lions flank the ceremonial entrance to the Council Chamber. Such guardian figures symbolised royal authority and protected important civic and religious structures throughout the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
Kumara Pokuna
Kumara Pokuna is an elegantly engineered bathing pool built for members of the royal court in 12th century. Its stone-lined walls and sophisticated water management demonstrate the advanced hydraulic knowledge of ancient Sri Lanka.
Nelum Pokuna
The Nelum Pokuna, or Lotus Pond, is one of the most distinctive hydraulic structures in Polonnaruwa. Built in the form of a lotus flower, it reflects the symbolic and engineering achievements of the medieval kingdom.
Lankatilaka Image House
Lankatilaka is the largest image houses build in ancient Sri Lanka. Built during the reign of King Parakramabahu I, its towering brick walls once enclosed a colossal standing Buddha statue.
Standing Buddha of Lankatilaka
The surviving lower portion of a monumental standing Buddha remains within the towering walls of Lankatilaka. The original statue is believed to have exceeded 12 metres in height and dominated the interior sanctuary.
Ancient Restoration Work
Ancient masonry and modern conservation work meet inside the Lankatilaka complex. Reinforced supports help stabilise sections of the monument while preserving one of the most important architectural achievements of medieval Sri Lanka.
Hevisi Mandapaya
The Hevisi Mandapaya served ceremonial and religious functions within the sacred city. Its carved stonework and elevated platform remain important examples of medieval Sinhalese architecture.
Abhayagiri Vihara
Founded in the 1st century BC, Abhayagiri became one of the greatest monastic centres of the Buddhist world. Pilgrims and scholars travelled here from across Asia to study and worship.
Ancient Bathing Pond
An ancient stone-lined bathing pond within the sacred city of Anuradhapura. These reservoirs formed part of a sophisticated hydraulic system that supplied water to monasteries, pilgrims, and residents of one of the longest continuously inhabited capitals of the ancient world.
Menik Vehera
Menik Vehera is one of the largest stupas in Polonnaruwa. Built during the reign of King Parakramabahu I, it once stood as a major religious monument within the Alahana Pirivena monastic complex.
Monastic Residential Complex
Rows of stone pillars mark the foundations of a residential building once occupied by Buddhist monks. Wooden structures originally rested on these columns, forming part of a large monastic community.
Nissanka Lata Mandapa
This unique stone pavilion was built by King Nissanka Malla. The lotus-stem columns curve gently inward and are unlike any other architectural feature found in Sri Lanka.
Velaikkara Inscription Precinct
Stone pillars, carved columns and brick foundations surround the area near the Velaikkara Inscription. These remains formed part of the ceremonial and administrative buildings associated with the Sacred Quadrangle during the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
Velaikkara Inscription
The Velaikkara Inscription records an agreement made by Tamil mercenary soldiers to protect the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic during the reign of King Vijayabahu I.
Pothgul Viharaya
Pothgul Viharaya is believed to have served as a monastery and library where Buddhist manuscripts were studied and preserved. The circular structure is one of the most distinctive monuments in Polonnaruwa.
Royal Palace Entrance
Decorated guardstones and a stone stairway mark the entrance to the Royal Palace complex built by King Parakramabahu I, once one of the grandest royal buildings in South Asia.
Sathmahal Prasada
Sathmahal Prasada is an unusual stepped monument believed to have been inspired by Cambodian or Southeast Asian architectural traditions. Its seven diminishing levels make it unique in Sri Lanka.
Shiva Devale No. 2
Constructed from granite blocks, Shiva Devale No. 2 is among the best-preserved Hindu temples in Sri Lanka and reflects the strong South Indian influence during the medieval period.
Polonnaruwa Vatadage
The Vatadage is considered one of the masterpieces of Sinhalese architecture. It was built to protect sacred relics and features beautifully carved stone guardstones, moonstones and stairways.
Vatadage Stone Stairway
The entrance staircase of the Vatadage is richly decorated with carvings of dwarfs, lotus motifs and guardian figures, showcasing the exceptional stone craftsmanship of the Polonnaruwa era.
Vatadage Buddha Shrine
Viewed through the surrounding columns, the seated Buddha occupies the sacred centre of the Vatadage, where relics and religious ceremonies were once protected by the circular structure.
Stone Inscription Slab
Large inscribed stone slabs such as this preserved royal decrees, donations, and administrative records. They provide historians with valuable evidence about governance and daily life in medieval Sri Lanka.
Abhayagiri Vihara
Founded in the 1st century BCE, it became the centre of the influential Abhayagiri monastic fraternity and attracted monks from across Asia.
Mirisawetiya Dagoba
Mirisawetiya was built by King Dutugemunu in the 2nd century BCE. According to tradition, the king accidentally left a sacred relic embedded in his spear at this site and subsequently constructed the stupa around it.
Ancient Stone Rice Canoe
Known locally as the Rice Boat or Rice Canoe, this massive stone trough to hold and serve cooked rice to thousands of Buddhist monks.
Sacred Quadrangle Ruins
Brick foundations and stone platforms mark the remains of religious and residential buildings within the Sacred Quadrangle, once the spiritual heart of the medieval capital.
Monastic Ruins
Carved stone foundations, decorative mouldings, and surviving wall sections reveal the architectural sophistication of the monastic compounds built during the Polonnaruwa Kingdom.
Ancient Monastic Courtyard
The remaining stone walls and foundations outline rooms, courtyards, and meditation spaces once occupied by monks serving the royal capital.
Kuttam Pokuna
One of the ancient bathing ponds of Kuttam Pokuna in Anuradhapura. These finely engineered stone reservoirs were constructed by the monks of the Abhayagiri Monastery and demonstrate the advanced hydraulic and architectural skills of ancient Sri Lanka.