Situated on the left bank of the great Mahaweli River, the ancient city of Polonnaruwa was the second capital of Sri Lanka, after Anuradhapura was abandoned as a capital in 993 AD. Polonnaruwa was abandoned as the capital in the 14th century. The historic Metropolis has served as one of the island's greatest cultural monuments, showcasing the work of the Cholas, which has been immaculately preserved, as well as the famed garden-city fashioned by Parakramabahu I in the 12th century.
