Etymologically Polonnaruwa derives from Pulasthi, the patron or guardian sage of the city. However the widely accepted etymology stems from the Sinhala words of ‘Pulun’ meaning Cotton and ‘Maruwa’ which means the exchange of.
Like Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa is situated in the North-central provinces of Sri Lanka and holds the distinction of being the second-oldest cities of ancient Sri Lankan civilization.
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After 1,200 years of continuous rule from Anuradhapura, the Cholas from Thanjavur besieged the capital in the early 11th-century, capturing its King and ultimately shifting the capital to Polonnaruwa. The Cholas ultimately ruled Polonnaruwa for the next 52 years before the Sinhala Kings defeated them and wrested control back. It was in this transitory period when Buddhism waned with the Cholas introducing Hinduism.
However Buddhism regained it’s prominence with the return of the Sinhala Kings with them restoring and renovating a lot of the Buddhist Viharas across the Kingdom.
