Sacred Temples & Stupas

This collection features the most revered Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle, spanning the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. It includes the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the world's oldest human-planted tree, and the Jetavanaramaya, once one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. Visitors can explore 5th-century rock carvings at Gal Viharaya, the first stupa built on the island at Thuparamaya, and the mountain peak of Mihintale, where Buddhism was first introduced to the nation.

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi Tree

Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a historical sacred bo tree in the Mahamewuna Garden in historical city of Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Mihintale

Mihintale is a mountain peak near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. It is believed by Sri Lankans to be the site of a meeting between the Buddhist…

Gal Viharaya

The Gal Vihara, and known originally as the Uttararama, is a rock temple of the Buddha situated in the ancient city Polonnaruwa, the…

Jetavanaramaya

The Jetavanarama stupa or Jetavanaramaya is a stupa, or Buddhist reliquary monument, located in the ruins of Jetavana monastery in the…

Ruwanwelisaya

The Ruwanweli Maha Seya, also known as the Maha Thupa, is a stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.

Thuparamaya Dagoba

The first stupa built in Sri Lanka following the introduction of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC. It is a sacred site believed to enshrine the right collarbone relic of the Buddha.

Aukana Buddha Statue

A 12-meter-tall standing Buddha statue carved from a single granite rock face during the 5th century. It displays the Ashiva Mudra and reflects precise ancient stone-carving techniques.

Samadhi Buddha Statue

A 4th-century granite statue located in Mahamewna Park, depicting the Buddha in the Dhyana Mudra, or meditation posture. It is regarded as a masterpiece of ancient Sinhalese sculpture.

Isurumuni Viharaya

A 3rd-century BC rock temple situated near the Tissa Wewa reservoir. It is renowned for its intricate stone carvings, including the famous 'Isurumuni Lovers' and 'Elephant Pond' reliefs.

Sri Sarannada Maha Pirivena

A traditional Buddhist monastic college and temple in Anuradhapura, serving as a center for religious education and the study of Pali and Sanskrit texts.