Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the centre of the Old Town.
Tourist Police
POLICE
In the Old Town at the main traffic circle.
Getting There & Away
BUS
Polonnaruwa's main bus station is in Kaduruwela, 4km east of Old Town on Batticaloa
Rd. Buses to and from the west pass through Old Town, but to make sure you get a seat,
start at Kaduruwela.
Buses are frequent until about 4pm on main routes, which include:
Anuradhapura
Rs 128, three hours
Colombo
regular/air-con Rs 250/440, six hours
Dambulla via Habarana
Rs 77, 1½ hours
Kandy
regular/air-con Rs 88/175, three hours
TRAIN
Polonnaruwa is on the Colombo-Batticaloa railway line and is about 30km southeast of
Gal Oya, where the line splits from the Colombo-Trincomalee line. The train station is in
Kaduruwela.
Trains include the following:
Batticaloa
1st/2nd/3rd class Rs 280/150/85, 2½ hours, five daily
Colombo
1st/2nd/3rd class Rs 700/420/265, six to seven hours, two daily
Getting Around
Frequent buses (Rs 10) link Old Town and Kaduruwela. Three-wheeler drivers ask for Rs
200 or more.
Bicycles are great for getting around Polonnaruwa's monuments, which are surrounded
by shady woodland. Most guesthouses rent bikes for Rs 200 to 350 per day, or scooters for
Rs 1500.
