Photo: A.Savin · FAL · Wikimedia CommonsRuwanwelisaya (Mahathupa)
Verification: in review · Coordinates: unverified
What is this site?
Colossal bubble-shaped (Bubbulakara) brick standing 338 feet high, surrounded by an elephant-forequarter terrace wall (Haththi-Prakara) enclosing the sacred relic chamber.
Why it matters
One of the holiest monuments in the Buddhist world, said to enshrine the largest single collection of relics of Gautama Buddha.
Description
Commissioned by King Dutugamunu in the 2nd century BCE to celebrate the reunification of the island, and completed by his brother King Saddhatissa. Associated patrons (as supplied): King Dutugamunu, King Saddhatissa. Key features to look for: Elephant wall frieze (Haththi-Prakara) encircling the terrace; Chuda Manikya crystal pinnacle crowning the gilded spire; Monolithic limestone statue identified as King Dutugamunu; Nighttime illumination of the dome during full-moon Poya.
Photos
Historical and scholarly sources
- Reference as supplied in project dataset (pending verification): Atamasthana #3; UNESCO Ref: 200 (1982)
Visiting responsibly
Dress modestly at religious sites, remove shoes and hats where requested, never climb on monuments or pose with your back to Buddha images, and follow guidance from custodians and the Department of Archaeology.