07/04/2024
As we travel back in time we head to Polonnaruwa, the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka! 🇱🇰
Built by Parakramabahu I the city is filled with temples, Buddhist statues and stupas, monastic schools, dorms and remnants of the Royal Palace and Gardens!
It was the royal capital for both the Singalese and Chola Empires and this can be seen in both the Hindu and Buddhist influence throughout the complex!
We followed this by travelling even further back to the first ancient capital Anuradhapura!
A political and religious capital that flourished for 1,300 year that was abandoned after an invasion in 993. Hidden away in dense jungle for many years, the enormous site, with its palaces, monasteries and monuments, is now accessible once again!
Considering excavation really only started in the 1990s and only 30% has been uncovered, it blows the mind how huge this place was!
Amazing insight into the technology at the time includes a city wide irrigation system, proper toilets, terracotta water pipes, granite filters and the geometrical and cosmological influences in the buildings themselves! 🤓
Then we accidently found our way into another Ayurvedic massage session 😁