Buddhist sites in Anuradhapura

Ruwanweliseya ( Ruwanweli Dagaba)

(This rare pic of Ruwanweliseya was taken from the top of Mirisawetiya from ven. Gnanarathana of the Mirisawetiya temple in June 2006).

Creator : The great King Dutugamunu

When : 161-137 BC

Highlights

• The most venerated of All Buddhist Stupas (Dagaba)of the entire country.

• Considered to be the greatest among all Stupas in Sri Lanka and thus known as the "Great Stupa" or "Mahastupa".

• Regarded as containing the LARGEST NUMBER of the sacred relics of the Buddha (believed to have 1/8th of the sacred relics)

• The current height of the Stupa is at an astounding 338 feet. The original height was 300 feet.

• The Stupa has a circumference of 370 feet! at its point of creation. The great king used extensive knowledge in structural engineering for its creation

• The king paid wages for everyone who worked on the Stupa (this was a rare gesture at the time where forced labour was the norm and goes to show the true caliber of the great king)