🤍 Ruwanwelisaya Stupa
Sri Lanka
About This Sacred Site
Ruwanwelisaya (also known as the Great Stupa) in Anuradhapura is one of the most venerated Buddhist monuments in Sri Lanka and the world. Built by King Dutugemunu around 140 BCE after defeating a South Indian invader, the gleaming white stupa stands 55 meters tall with a circumference of 290 meters. It is believed to enshrine relics of the Buddha. The stupa's base is surrounded by a wall of 344 elephant sculptures, and the entire structure has been meticulously maintained and restored over two millennia. Ruwanwelisaya is one of the Solosmasthana — the 16 most sacred Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka.
Key Facts
- •Built by King Dutugemunu around 140 BCE to celebrate victory over invaders
- •Stands 55 meters tall with a circumference of 290 meters
- •Believed to enshrine relics of the Buddha
- •The base is surrounded by a decorative wall featuring 344 elephant figures
- •One of the Solosmasthana, the 16 holiest Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka
Location
Coordinates: 8.3493, 80.3956
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