Read this blog: The one where we discover about toe alignment Sunday 8th March 2026 Today we planned to visit Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s second capital city and another extensive ruined site. The ancient capital at Anuradhapura was destroyed in 993 BCE by Chola invaders from southern India [now the state of Tamil Nadu] who ruled for about the next 75 years. In 1077 King Vijayabahu I, having commanded separate armies to attack Polonnaruwa on three fronts and besieged the city for seven months, eventually gained control and became king. Polonnaruwa then became Sri Lanka’s second capital and continued in this capacity from the 11th to the 13th centuries. King Vijayabahu I‘s grandson, King Parakramabahu I [1153 -1186], also known as Parakramabahu the Great, is celebrated in a 11 foot [3.4m] tall statue carved from a single block of granite and dating from the 12th century. Located near Pothgul Vihara, this was our first stop. Pothgul Vihara means ‘Library Shrine’ and the site comprises both library and monastic remains. There is some debate about what King Parakramabahu I is holding: a yoke for oxen or a leaf manuscript but he is certainly very simply dressed for a monarch. King Parakramabahu I united […]
Daily Archives: 11/03/2026
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