Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa served as the medieval capital of Sri Lanka between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries and contains an extensive ruined city spread across a jungle-edged park accessible by bicycle. The Gal Vihara rock temple, carved into a single granite face, contains four images — a seated Buddha, two standing figures, and a 15-metre reclining figure — that represent the apex of Sinhalese sculptural art. Early morning visits before tour groups arrive allow photography of the stone surfaces in angled raking light.