A dignified rock-cut relief of a robed figure beside the Parakrama Samudra, popularly believed to portray the great king who built the reservoir.

Overview

At the southern end of the ancient city, near the bund of the vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir, a life-sized figure stands carved in high relief on a great granite boulder. Around 3.4 metres tall, the bearded figure holds what may be a palm-leaf manuscript or a yoke, and is widely believed to depict King Parakramabahu the Great, though some scholars suggest a sage such as Pulasti. Just south lies the Potgul Vihara, a circular brick building thought to have been an ancient library or shrine. The setting beside the sea-like reservoir is one of the most atmospheric in Polonnaruwa.

History

The statue and the Potgul Vihara date to the 12th century, the era of King Parakramabahu I, who created the Parakrama Samudra by uniting several older reservoirs into one of the largest ancient tanks in the country. The identity of the figure has never been settled, but its association with the king who transformed the city has made it an enduring symbol of Polonnaruwa. It forms part of the UNESCO-listed Ancient City.