Reference
A History of Sri Lanka
The standard history of Sri Lanka from Anuradhapura to independence.
Polonnaruwa Kingdom
Kingdom
Level 2
★ Major power
c. 1070 – 1232
Kingdom of Vijayabahu I and Parakramabahu I, after the expulsion of the Cholas.
- Capital
- Polonnaruwa
- Region
- Sri Lanka
- Duration
- 162 years
- Main period
- Chola & Major Southern Kingdoms
Approximate extent.
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Rulers
- Vijayabahu I King1055 – 1110Expelled the Cholas.
- Parakramabahu I King1153 – 1186Parakrama Samudra; united the island.
- Nissanka Malla King1187 – 1196
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1070 | Vijayabahu I expels the Cholas from Sri Lanka Sinhalese rule was restored with its capital at Polonnaruwa. |
Polonnaruwa |
| 1153 | Parakramabahu I rules Sri Lanka | Polonnaruwa |
Sites & monuments
Polonnaruwa
Capital / fort · 1070
📚 Recommended reading on the Polonnaruwa Kingdom
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📄 Research papers
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Political Processes and Structure of Polity in Early Medieval India: Problems of Perspective
Proposes 'integration' — the spread of state society into new regions — as the key to early medieval India.
Paper🏛 Library access
The Cosmopolitan Vernacular
How Kannada, Telugu and other regional languages became languages of kingship alongside Sanskrit.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
Forms of Production and Forces of Change in Ancient Tamil Society
Pastoral, farming and coastal economies of the Sangam age and how they changed.
Paper🏛 Library access
🇮🇳 Indian scholarship
The temple and the state in medieval South India
The temple as landholder, bank and seat of royal legitimacy under the Cholas and after.
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Polonnaruwa Kingdom for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Chahamanas (Chauhans) of Shakambhari ★
West · c. 650 CE – c. 1194
Overlap: 124 years
Pala Empire ★
East · c. 750 CE – c. 1161
Overlap: 91 years
Chola Empire ★
South · c. 848 CE – 1279
Overlap: 162 years
Ghaznavid Empire ★
Northwest · c. 977 CE – c. 1186
Overlap: 116 years
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 79 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 31 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 26 years
Kamarupa
Northeast · c. 350 CE – c. 1140
Overlap: 70 years
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Central · c. 675 CE – 1212
Overlap: 142 years
Guhilas of Medapata
West · c. 728 CE – 1303
Overlap: 162 years
Tomaras of Delhi
North · c. 736 CE – c. 1152
Overlap: 82 years
Thakuri Kingdom of Nepal
Himalaya · c. 750 CE – 1200
Overlap: 130 years
Chera Perumals of Makotai
South · c. 800 CE – c. 1124
Overlap: 54 years
Paramara Dynasty
Central · c. 800 CE – 1305
Overlap: 162 years
Chandela Dynasty
Central · c. 831 CE – 1315
Overlap: 162 years
Chaulukyas (Solankis) of Gujarat
West · c. 940 CE – 1244
Overlap: 162 years
Western Chalukyas of Kalyani
Deccan · c. 973 CE – c. 1189
Overlap: 119 years
Lohara Dynasty of Kashmir
North · c. 1003 – c. 1171
Overlap: 101 years
Hoysala Empire
South · c. 1026 – 1343
Overlap: 162 years
Soomra Dynasty
Northwest · c. 1026 – 1351
Overlap: 162 years
Sena Dynasty
East · c. 1070 – 1230
Overlap: 160 years
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Overlap: 154 years
Gahadavala Dynasty
Gangetic Plain · c. 1089 – c. 1197
Overlap: 108 years
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Overlap: 132 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 108 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 104 years
Kakatiya Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1163 – 1323
Overlap: 69 years
Ghurid Empire
Northwest · c. 1175 – 1206
Overlap: 31 years
Seuna (Yadava) Dynasty
Deccan · c. 1187 – 1317
Overlap: 45 years
Pandya Empire (Second Empire)
South · c. 1190 – 1345
Overlap: 42 years