Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu

Located at the heart of the citadel, the Royal Palace of King Parakramabahu I (historically named Vevejanta Prasada, meaning the Palace of God Indra) is a grand monument to medieval royal luxury. Built in the 12th century, historical chronicles record that this massive structure was originally a 7-story palace featuring over a thousand rooms, supported by heavy wooden beams and topped with a gilded roof.

Today, the crumbling ruins consist primarily of massive brick walls that stand nearly 30 feet tall and measure over 3 feet in thickness. The sheer scale and thickness of these walls reveal the advanced engineering required to support a multi-story building during the medieval era.

Visitors can walk through the central hall to see the rows of deep sockets where heavy wooden floor beams once rested, and climb a small set of stone stairs that led to the upper floors. The palace complex also includes the beautifully preserved Council Chamber, featuring a stone staircase guarded by beautifully carved lions, and the Prince’s Bathing Pool (Kumara Pokuna), a sunken granite pool featuring stone gargoyles that channeled fresh water from the nearby river, offering an intimate look into royal life.