Jetavanaramaya

Jetavanaramaya

Jetavanaramaya is situated in the sacred city of Anuradhapura. It was Mahasena of Anuradhapura who initiated the construction of the stupa after the destruction of the maha vihara. Then his son Maghavanna I completed the construction of the stupa. A belt tied by the Buddha is believed to be the relic that is enshrined here.

About the destination

Jetavanaramaya rises above the entire eastern part of Anuradhapura. It was built in the 3rd century by Mahasena. It is believed to have been originally 120m in height, but today it is about 70m similar to the Abhayagiri. It was considered to be the third-tallest monument in the world, as the first two were Egyptian pyramids. The stupa is huge, in bulbous form is unplastered and said to consist of more than 90 million bricks.

History of the destination

Jetavanaramaya is significant in history as it represents the tensions within the Theravada and Mahayana sects of Buddhism. This stupa belongs to the Sagalika sect and has housed about 10,000 monks.  It is also recorded in history as one of the tallest buildings in the world but now it is no longer the tallest but still the largest with a base area of 233,000 m².

The engineering behind this is amazing and interests many people who visit this place.

Reaching the destination

From Colombo

Go on McCallum Road. Continue straight onto Colombo – Katunayake Expressway and take the Ja-Ela exit. Turn left onto Ja Ela-Ekala Highway and turn right onto Kurunegala Road.

Turn left at Kalugamuwa Junction onto Kalugamuwa-Wariyapola Road then go straight past Kurunegala Junction onto Mihindu Mawatha. You have to take the 2nd exit onto Thuparama Mawatha and turn right onto Watawandana Rd to reach your destination.

From Anuradhapura

Go on Sangabo Mawatha and turn left onto D S Senanayake Mawatha. Turn right onto  Puttalam- Trincomalee Highway and turn right at Kurunegala Junction onto Mihindu Mawatha.

You have to take a turn right onto Thuparama Mawatha and turn right onto Watawandana Road to reach your destination.