The Gal Vihara consists of four Buddha statues carved from one long slab of granite jutting up from the ground. The finest of the series is the standing Buddha which is 7m/23ft tall. The reclining Buddha is 14m/46ft long. Two sitting Buddhas located out of the frame off to the left complete the quartet.

At one time each statue had its own separate enclosure. The shrine is open-air today but visitors must remove their shoes if they wish to approach up close. The site is part of a monastery established by King Parakramabahu I who ruled from 1153 to 1186.

Polonnaruwa became the second ancient Sinhalese capital (replacing Anuradhapura) after King Vijayabahu I defeated Tamil Chola invaders from southern India in 1070 to reunite the country. Lavish public works made the city a great Asian capital. Starting in the 13th century, a series of weak rulers and deterioration of the irrigation system led to a decline in Polonnaruwa’s power and appeal. King Vijayabahu III, who reigned from 1232 to 1236, moved the capital of his reduced kingdom to Dambadeniya.

The Ancient City of Polonnaruwa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

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