Archaeological Museum
Archaeological Museum
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
273 reviews
Excellent
69
Very good
117
Average
67
Poor
14
Terrible
6
Janka K
Brno, Czech Republic6,264 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
The museum is not as interesting as seeing the historical sights themselves, but it's definitely necessary to understand what you will actually visit at what location and what you will actually see. At the same time, this is a ticket office where you need to buy a ticket to enter different museum locations. As with anything at Sri Lanka, tourists and locals get very different prices for entrance tickets.
Written April 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
selvakumar2015
Chennai, India684 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
Located in natural settings surrounded by ponds brimming with water lilies, the archaeological museum of Pulanaruva needs atleast two hours to see the various artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations in and around Pulanaruva, Sri Lanka.
The artifacts/ remains of both the victors and the vanquished are displayed in various sections of the museum.
The museum is air-conditioned with a quiet ambience.
The visitors, though few, comprise both domestic and international tourists.
The entry fee is quite reasonable and the staff are friendly.
A visitors book is also available for your comments.
Enroute to Pulanaruva we also saw a few wild elephants.
For unknown reasons, photography inside the museum is not allowed.
Worth visiting.
The artifacts/ remains of both the victors and the vanquished are displayed in various sections of the museum.
The museum is air-conditioned with a quiet ambience.
The visitors, though few, comprise both domestic and international tourists.
The entry fee is quite reasonable and the staff are friendly.
A visitors book is also available for your comments.
Enroute to Pulanaruva we also saw a few wild elephants.
For unknown reasons, photography inside the museum is not allowed.
Worth visiting.
Written October 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
S P
UK15 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
The staff are very rude and unhelpful here. They pressure you to buy tickets even for people who don't want to go. They followed us to the car for some reason to check who was in the car. Its all very strange. Rude and unhelpful staff let things down here.
Written February 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sipke vink
Cairns, Australia206 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Shame you are not aloud to make any pictures there are some interesting objects in display well worth it to see and explore
Written March 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Riccardo R
Udine, Italy208 contributions
Jan 2016 • Solo
Excellent museum located in Polonnaruwa city centre, near the lake. Entrance is included in Polonnaruwa archaeological site ticket (Rs 3500 in January 2016). Very interesting guided tour (free) led by an archaeologist. On the first room, a large model of the city and ruins gives an idea of how enormous the city was. Many photos of the monuments before and after restoration. Stone sculptures of Hindu deities, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, fragments of columns and capitels. Interesting stone boxes with offerings. Dancing Shiva Nataraja in bronze. Really worth the visit (better before the ruins)
Written February 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovethisplanet2014
Palmerston, Australia223 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
Mainly before-after pictures and a few models, The original items are worth it but don't plan for too much time in here. The aircon isn't working so it's like a sauna, too.
Written April 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
worldnomad_01
Los Angeles, CA1,634 contributions
Nov 2018
Located outside the archeological park and near the ticket counter, the small museum would give you a feeling of the history of the place you're going to visit, an idea of the splendor that must have been the capital of the second oldest kingdom of the country, the Kindom of Polonnaruwa.
Written December 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flo
26 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Some nice exponation pieces but very little information.
Why number the pieces if there are no explanations as to what the numbers are? Why put several pieces together with the mere description „hindu ritual utensils“ without any further information on how or what for they were used?
Please put some effort into proper curation of the museum!
Why number the pieces if there are no explanations as to what the numbers are? Why put several pieces together with the mere description „hindu ritual utensils“ without any further information on how or what for they were used?
Please put some effort into proper curation of the museum!
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Albia-Newton
Evanton, UK3,957 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Has done nice artefacts and gives an understanding of the site. So much more could be done with a couple of films and a bit of computer graphic work. An opportunity waiting to be taken
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosario_it
Belgium1,827 contributions
Aug 2018 • Solo
This museum is very good.
One good advice is to visit it before visiting all the sites present in Polonnaruwa. This because you will earn something more about the site in general which you can explore later.
One good advice is to visit it before visiting all the sites present in Polonnaruwa. This because you will earn something more about the site in general which you can explore later.
Written July 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lablett26
Yogyakarta Region, Indonesia1 contribution
What are the museum opening days during April? Is the museum closed during the new year public holidays?
My humble opinion
Edinburgh, UK795 contributions
Sorry not sure
Kathryn B
Lancaster4 contributions
Can you purchase a ticket fir museum only?
Sunimal R
Invercargill, New Zealand417 contributions
I’m only aware that tickets can be purchase only from the museum entrance since I have purchased like that only. At that there’s no any crowd so I didn’t need to find other means.
However you may find other alternatives by visiting archaeological.gov.lk web site.
Aline B
Toulouse1 contribution
Peut on visiter le musée la veille avant de faire le site de Polanarawa?
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Claim your listingArchaeological Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Archaeological Museum
- Hotels near Archaeological Museum:
- (0.12 mi) EKHO Lake House
- (0.09 mi) Siyanco Holiday Resort
- (0.08 mi) Jungle Cottage Habarana
- (0.08 mi) Hotel Gajaba
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- Restaurants near Archaeological Museum:
- (0.10 mi) New Araliya Sinhala Hotel
- (0.08 mi) Gami Gedara Bojun Hala
- (0.12 mi) Lake Inn Guest House Dining Room
- (1.21 mi) Rasa Bojun Gedara
- (0.35 mi) Sunrise And Akila Restaurant
Archaeological Museum Information
Excellent Reviews | 69 |
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Very Good Reviews | 117 |
Archaeological Museum Photos | 54 |