The overgrown ruins of a 12th-century royal capital, with a moated citadel, palace foundations, stupas and a restored tooth-relic shrine.

Overview

Panduwasnuwara is a little-visited archaeological site preserving the remains of a short-lived medieval capital in the west of Kurunegala District. Spread across paddy country are the earthworks of a moated citadel, the brick foundations of a royal palace, monastery ruins, a large stupa and a restored circular relic house. Its quiet, rarely crowded ruins reward travellers interested in ancient Sri Lankan history away from the main cultural-triangle sites.

History

Panduwasnuwara served as Parakramapura, the provincial capital of Dakkhinadesa, in the 12th century, and was the power base of the young Parakramabahu I before he unified the island and ruled from Polonnaruwa. For a period the sacred Tooth Relic was kept here. The site is sometimes also linked in legend to the ancient king Panduvasdeva, though the surviving ruins are medieval.