Ruwanweli Maha Seya - The Great Stupa - Sri Lanka

Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as Mahathupa, the Great Stupa, is one of the world's tallest ancient monuments. It was built by King Dutugamunu in 140 B.C. and later renovated by many kings. It is 103 meters tall and 290 meters in circumference.

As per Mahavansa, the great Sri Lankan chronicles written in the 5th century, relics of the Lord Buddha are enshrined in this stupa. Due to this, Buddhist consider this to be a very sacred site.

Ruwanweliseya is located in the ancient royal garden called Mahamevna Uyana in the UNESCO heritage-listed city of Anuradhapura. This garden has other important religious sites like Jaya Sri Maha Bodi, Samadhi statue - Buddha statue considered to be one of the finest in Sri Lanka, dated back to the 4th-6th century, Thuparama Stupa, Lovamahapaya, etc.

When worshipping the stupas, Buddhists usually walk around the Stupas in a clockwise direction.


With the change of Sri Lanka's capital city from Anuradhapura mainly due to invasions, many sacred places including Ruwanweliseya were claimed by the wilderness. Through the efforts of Buddhist monks and philanthropists, Ruwanweliseya was renovated and the modern-day crowning was held in 1940.

The outer wall surrounding the terrace upon which the Stupa stands consists of more than a hundred elephants. While they were part of the original wall, most of the elephants had been replaced during the reconstruction.

Váhalkada is a kind of front piece constructed at the four cardinal points around stupas. Usually stone slabs can be found as part of these structures and used for offering flowers to the Stupa.



It is a custom for Buddhists to make special vows and wishes at the sacred Ruwanweliseya Stupa. They usually wrap a coin in white cloth when making the vow.

There is a statue believed to be King Dutugamunu, the king who built Ruwanweliseya and his mother, Viharamahadevi near the Stupa.


There were few processions and offerings to the stupa during the time we visited.



Ruwanweliseya built more than 2000 years ago, is not only considered the most sacred stupa but also an engineering feast of ancient Sri Lanka and is a must visit if you are in the sacred city of Anuradhapura.

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