Shiva Kovil #1
The first kovil you encounter when entering the ancient city of Polonnaruwa is the Shiva Kovil (no. 1). This ancient Hindu temple is believed to have been built in the 13th century AD by South Indian invaders, although the identity of the builder remains uncertain.
The walls of this kovil are constructed using closely fitted stone blocks that are not found in the vicinity of Polonnaruwa. The carvings of the deities inside the temple are done in the Indian style, leading to the belief that the carved stones were either brought from India or created by Indian artists who came to Sri Lanka.
The Shiva Kovil is built mainly with stone, which was precisely laid without any plastering to connect the stone bricks. Although the temple's roof has collapsed, it is believed that the original roof was constructed with bricks.
During its excavation, a large number of artifacts were discovered and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Polonnaruwa. Despite the passage of time, this...
The walls of this kovil are constructed using closely fitted stone blocks that are not found in the vicinity of Polonnaruwa. The carvings of the deities inside the temple are done in the Indian style, leading to the belief that the carved stones were either brought from India or created by Indian artists who came to Sri Lanka.
The Shiva Kovil is built mainly with stone, which was precisely laid without any plastering to connect the stone bricks. Although the temple's roof has collapsed, it is believed that the original roof was constructed with bricks.
During its excavation, a large number of artifacts were discovered and can now be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Polonnaruwa. Despite the passage of time, this...
