Second last day of the trip and a 4am start for us to get to Polonnaurawa and back in a single day.
Polonnaruwa was one the medieval capitals of Sri Lanka from 1161 to 1293 when the jungle claimed it again.
Polonnaruwa was also one of the reasons Gilly was so keen to come on the tour - having had a fascination with Sri Lanka since Duran Duran had filmed 2 videos in the 1980s - their Save a Prayer video was filmed at Polonnaruwa! A lifetime's ambition fulfilled. Shot here of a moonstone at the steps of the Vatadage in what's known as the Quadrangle. Three animals are celebrated on the moonstone- well four, nay five, if you count the sleepy pregnant cat!
View of the Vatadage
The Gal Potha (The Book of Stone). Inscribed all over to list the achievements of one of the ancient Kings.
The rather impressive Rankot Vihara.
The Lankatilaka image house
Front view of the Lankatilaka shrine with its headless statue of the Buddha
The Gal Vihara - 3 figures of the Buddha carved out of a granite cliff-face. This one being the meditating Buddha.
The serenity of this spot is somewhat spoilt by a protective roof that's been built over it.
This figure represents a reclining Buddha as he slips into Nirvana and passes away. A very revered spot is this.
The figure is 46ft long. Quite an amazing feat of sculpture -i.e. you could hardly start again if the chisel slipped!