Sri Lanka’s medieval capital at its peak of artistic achievement, Polonnaruwa produced monuments of extraordinary elegance before the kingdom fell in the 13th century. The Gal Vihara rock sculptures, four figures carved from a single granite face, are among the finest Buddhist artworks in Asia. The Vatadage circular relic house is one of the most geometrically perfect ancient structures on the island. Explored by bicycle on the flat, shaded paths between monuments, Polonnaruwa rewards exactly the kind of slow attention Gap Ceylon Travelers designs for.