Located in the sacred city of Anuradhapura, Abhayagiriya (also spelled Abhayagiri Dagoba) is one of Sri Lanka’s most magnificent and historically significant monastic complexes. Built in the 1st century BCE by King Valagamba, it stood as a center of learning, meditation, and spiritual growth — and became one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the ancient world.
At its height, Abhayagiriya was home to over 5,000 monks and served as the heart of the Abhayagiri Monastic Order, which played a major role in spreading Buddhism across Asia. The towering stupa, once reaching nearly 100 meters in height, rivaled the pyramids of Egypt in grandeur. Though weathered by time, it still stands today as a majestic symbol of Sri Lanka’s ancient engineering and devotion.
The vast monastery ruins surrounding the stupa — including image houses, meditation platforms, and intricate carvings — reveal the sophistication of the Anuradhapura civilization. The site is also deeply revered for once housing the Tooth Relic of the Buddha before it was moved to Kandy.
