The ancient city of Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka was once the capital of the land and remains a popular historical attraction for both native residents and visitors to the country. Amongst the many interesting cultural attractions to be found in this fascinating location is the royal palace of King Parakramabahu the Great, one of the most renowned monarchs of the land who ruled in the 12th century. This magnificent edifice was created as a seven storey construction but today only the remnants of 3 storeys remain. In its heyday there would have been an entire compound of buildings at the location; to the south of the principal building you will see what remains of the monarch's audience chamber and the bathing pools. The original name for this regal complex was Vijayoth Paya, the name used for the abode of Sakra, the king of the gods. This name was used to signify that the king was as powerful as the supreme deity. The Mahavamsa, the revered chronicle of the land states that the construction of this royal abode took no less than 7 years and 7 months. According to historical documents the palace had 1,000 rooms, of which the remains of 55 chambers may be seen today. Sightseers must climb a number of steps to reach the ruins of the building. Today visitors will see that the edifice is composed of sturdy brick walls; one can still see the arrays of the holes which were used to affix the frame for the wooden flooring. You will also notice the central section, 100 ft in length and width, which was reserved for the use of the king. Sadly this splendid palace was demolished by an invader from South India called 'Maga' in the 13th century. Visitor can still observe the blackened walls and bricks which bear witness to the destruction. No visit to Polonnaruwa would be complete without visiting this unmistakable relic of the Sinhalese monarchy in years past. Travellers looking for a fine Sri Lanka resort will find an exceptional rest in the Maalu Maalu Resort & Spa. This quality hotel in Pasikuda offers comfortable accommodations and attentive hospitality and an ideal East Coast base from which to explore the region. Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
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