Polonnaruwa: Sri Lanka's Medieval Capital of Splendor and Strife

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Polonnaruwa: Sri Lanka's Medieval Capital of Splendor and Strife

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In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka's second great kingdom, which flourished after the fall of Anuradhapura. They discuss how King Vijayabahu I liberated the island from Chola rule in 1070, ushering in a golden age under Parakramabahu I (1153-1186), who built massive irrigation works like the Parakrama Samudra and grand monuments like the Polonnaruwa Vatadage. The conversation delves into the kingdom's administrative innovations, its embrace of Theravada Buddhism under Parakramabahu I's reforms, and its eventual decline after Kalinga Magha's invasion in 1215. Lucas highlights lesser-known figures like Queen Lilavati, who ruled twice during the chaotic post-Magha period, and the Parakramabahu VI's later revival in the 15th century. The episode also touches on the archaeological rediscovery of Polonnaruwa by H.C.P. Bell in the late 19th century and the controversies around his methods. Throughout, Lucas and Luna bring to life the lost world of Polonnaruwa's courts, monasteries, and reservoirs, offering a fresh angle beyond the more commonly covered Anuradhapura period. #Polonnaruwa #ParakramabahuI #VijayabahuI #KalingaMagha #QueenLilavati #PolonnaruwaVatadage #ParakramaSamudra #HCPBell #TheravadaBuddhism #SriLankaHistory #CholaInvasion #Culavamsa #MedievalSriLanka #IrrigationCivilization #ArchaeologyControversy #History #FexingoHistory #SouthAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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