Ancient Technology Museum & Wax Museum
About This Museum
Did you know this place holds a 5,000-year-old clay tablet that's essentially an ancient manual for building an irrigation system? Tucked away near the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, this museum completely flips the script on dusty old exhibits. You'll find yourself face-to-face with eerily lifelike wax figures of Sri Lankan kings standing just feet away from their actual, ingeniously engineered inventions. It’s a wonderfully strange and personal dialogue between art and engineering that makes the past feel vividly present.
Collection Highlights
Don't miss the stunningly accurate wax depiction of King Parakramabahu I beside a massive scale model of his vast Parakrama Samudra reservoir. The halls are filled with working models of ancient machinery, from intricate copper-alloy surgical tools to a fully operational 'Pancha Jathara' metal furnace used for smelting iron.
Visitor Information
It's located right in the heart of the Polonnaruwa archaeological zone, so it's easy to pop in after exploring the main ruins. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and often give impromptu demonstrations of how the ancient devices actually worked.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a modest, low-slung building with a red-tiled roof that blends seamlessly with the surrounding historic landscape, its unassuming exterior belies the fascinating treasures within.
Contact & Location
Address: Polonnaruwa, Polonnaruwa District, North Central Province, 51000, Sri Lanka
Phone: +94 272 057 336
Website: Visit Website
