After the fall of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa rose as a garden city of architectural wonder. This medieval capital is remarkably well- preserved, showcasing the “Golden Age” of Sri Lankan irrigation and art. Don’t miss the Gal Vihara, where four magnificent Buddha statues are carved directly into a single granite rock, or the Parakrama Samudra, a man- made “sea” that still feeds the surrounding rice fields today.