Is Polonnaruwa best done by bicycle or with a driver

Cycling is genuinely the best way to see Polonnaruwa, the ruined city is flat, shaded by trees, and the sites are spread over a few kilometers but linked by quiet park roads. Even non-sporty travelers manage it comfortably if you start at 6 to 7am, finish the main loop by 11am, and rest during the midday heat. Bikes rent for a few hundred rupees right outside the entrance. Must-see in order: the Royal Palace ruins, the Quadrangle (Vatadage), Rankoth Vehera, and the absolute highlight Gal Vihara, with four enormous Buddha statues carved into a single granite rock. If cycling really is not an option, a tuk-tuk for the day works too. Skip the air-conditioned car, you cannot easily stop and explore.