Abhyagiri Monastery & Dagaba

Abhayagiri Monastery and Dagaba hold significant historical and religious importance in Sri Lanka, particularly in the ancient city of Anuradhapura. Established in the 2nd century BC by King Valagamba, also known as Vattagamini Abhaya, Abhayagiri Monastery emerged as one of the largest monastic complexes of its time. Serving as a hub for Buddhist learning, meditation, and religious activities, the monastery accommodated thousands of monks and played a pivotal role in the propagation of Buddhism across the region. Its architectural grandeur and spiritual ambiance made it a revered center during the Anuradhapura period.

Within the monastery's premises stands the majestic Abhayagiri Dagaba, a towering Buddhist stupa originally built by King Valagamba in the 1st century BC. Over the centuries, the dagaba underwent numerous renovations and expansions, reaching its current form during the reign of King Parakramabahu I. Rising to a height of approximately 75 meters, the Abhayagiri Dagaba stands as a testament to ancient Sri Lankan architecture and Buddhist devotion. Together, the monastery and the dagaba serve as important pilgrimage sites, attracting visitors from around the world to explore Sri Lanka's rich cultural and religious heritage.

It is one of the most extensive ruins in the world and one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage cities in the nation. Historically it was a great monastic center as well as a royal capital, with magnificent monasteries rising to many stories, roofed with gilt bronze or tiles of burnt clay glazed in brilliant colours. To the north of the city, encircled by great walls and containing elaborate bathing ponds, carved balustrades and moonstones, stood "Abhayagiri", one of seventeen such religious units in Anuradhapura and the largest of its five major viharas. One