Located in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Anuradhapura, Lankaramaya is an ancient 1st-century BC stupa famously surrounded by the beautiful stone pillars of a ruined circular temple.

Why visit Lankaramaya

• Temple Built on a Refuge Site: King Valagamba built the stupa on the site where he hid from invaders. He named it "Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya."
• Possible Repository of Sacred Relics: According to a modern tradition, the stupa enshrines three small, sacred bone fragments of the Buddha. These relics are believed to be uniquely fragrant and shining.
• Architectural Twin of Thuparamaya: The stupa's design closely resembles Thuparamaya, the first stupa in Sri Lanka. This suggests a shared architectural tradition.
• Remains of a Stupa House (Vatadage): The ruins show rows of stone pillars. These pillars once supported a stupa house (pilimage/railing structure) around the stupa.
• Part of a Larger Monastic Complex: Lankarama was once part of the massive Abhayagiri Monastic Complex. The nearby Eth Pokuna (Elephant Pond) was likely a water source for the monks of this complex.