Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
25
The Lake
A6
26
Thisara Guest House
B6
Eating
Shopping
27
Sathosa
B6
Information
28
Ticket Desk
A4
Most visitors will find a day is enough time to explore the ruins, which can be conveni-
ently divided into five groups: the Royal Palace group; the Quadrangle; the Northern
Group (spread over a wide area); a small group near the Polonnaruwa Heritage Hotel on
the banks of the tank; and the small Southern group, towards the New Town. There are
also a few other scattered ruins. The main structures all have useful information plaques.
A bike is an ideal way to explore the area. There's plenty of shade around the monu-
ments and vendors sell drinks (including iced coconuts) and snacks.
Archaeological Museum
MUSEUM
This excellent museum is comprised of several rooms, each dedicated to a particular
theme: the citadel, the outer city, the monastery area (check out the model of the monks'
hospital and medical instruments) and Hindu monuments. The latter room contains a won-
derful selection of bronzes including some outstanding Shiva statues. One depicts Shiva,
ringed by an
aureole
(celestial arch), performing a cosmic dance while trampling on a
dwarf; another depicts a seated, four-armed Shiva bearing a battle axe.
