Attraction

Jethavanaramaya

Located right at the heart of the world heritage city of Anuradhapura, The Jethavanaramaya is one of the most iconic Buddhist monuments in Sri Lanka. Standing height of a staggering 122 meters, it was the world’s third tallest structure and the tallest stupa during the time it was built. The towering monument was constructed by King Mahasena during the period of 273 AD – 301AD and like the other Dagobas on the island, this too is believed to have been constructed with a relic of Lord Buddha at its heart.

After the fall of the Anuradhapura kingdom, the site was abandoned by the people who inhabited the region and it was badly damaged due to the exposure to natural elements and lack of maintenance. The site was covered in shrubs and plant when the conservation efforts began in 1909 and from then onwards, with proceedings received from tourists the site was gradually renovated. During the renovation process, numerous artefacts were also recovered from the site and most of them offered proof that the religious monument received visitors from around the globe during ancient times.

Like the other monumental structures build in the ancient world, this site too boggles the imaginations of scientists and engineers. The scale of the construction and the engineering ingenuity still baffles historians and they still do not have answers to how a structure of this scale would have been built during a time where complex machinery did not exist. The monument also features intricately carved sculptures and even inscriptions that tell the tales and gives us a glimpse of how life would have been during these times.

As a religious monument, today, it draws pilgrims from around the country and it also attracts tourists around the world due to its cultural and historic significance. Visitors to the site often say that this site beams with a positive aura and instils a profound sense of peace within their minds. Being a site that offers you unique travel experiences, this Jethavanaramaya must be added to your travel itinerary!

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