Polonnaruwa

The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-oldest of Sri Lanka's kingdoms, sits alongside a large lake in the North Central Province. First established as a Sinhalese military post, it was renamed by the Chola dynasty after their 10th-century conquest of Anuradhapura, and later became a royal capital. The modern town beside the ruins has a café and restaurant scene that exceeds what its size might suggest, with mountain views visible from the waterside.

• Population13,900
• Nearest water from center 0.2 km0.1 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 11 km6.7 mi