'The last of the holy sites
of Atamasthana (Eight Holy Places) is the little known stupa, Lankaramaya. It
is believed this stupa was built by King Vattagamini Abaya (Valagamba) in the
1st century BC.
According to some sources, the ancient name of the stupa and the surrounding temple complex was 'Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.' The legend says King Valagamba was hiding in a place called Silasobbha Khandaka during South Indian Chola invasions. After defeating the invaders and regaining power in Anuradhapura, the King had built a stupa at the place where he was hiding and named it 'Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.'
However, very little is known about the original form or how it came to be known as Lankarama Stupa. According to archaeological evidence, the stupa had undergone a series of renovations and the present day stupa is quite similar in form and structure to Thuparama, the first stupa built in Sri Lanka after Buddhism was introduced here.
Lankarama too has evidence of a magnificent vatadage (house built encircling the stupa) and there are indications that there were 88 stone pillars supporting the roof of the vatadage. However, today, only a few of those pillars are remaining.
The stupa is quite small in size when compared to giants in Anuradhapura such as Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiriya or Ruwanvelisaya, with only a diameter of 45 feet (14 metres).
The stupa is standing on a circular courtyard, raised 10 feet (3 metres) above ground, and with a diameter of 1,332 feet (406 metres).'
According to some sources, the ancient name of the stupa and the surrounding temple complex was 'Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.' The legend says King Valagamba was hiding in a place called Silasobbha Khandaka during South Indian Chola invasions. After defeating the invaders and regaining power in Anuradhapura, the King had built a stupa at the place where he was hiding and named it 'Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya.'
However, very little is known about the original form or how it came to be known as Lankarama Stupa. According to archaeological evidence, the stupa had undergone a series of renovations and the present day stupa is quite similar in form and structure to Thuparama, the first stupa built in Sri Lanka after Buddhism was introduced here.
Lankarama too has evidence of a magnificent vatadage (house built encircling the stupa) and there are indications that there were 88 stone pillars supporting the roof of the vatadage. However, today, only a few of those pillars are remaining.
The stupa is quite small in size when compared to giants in Anuradhapura such as Jetavanaramaya, Abhayagiriya or Ruwanvelisaya, with only a diameter of 45 feet (14 metres).
The stupa is standing on a circular courtyard, raised 10 feet (3 metres) above ground, and with a diameter of 1,332 feet (406 metres).'
Above photo from - http://www.sinhalaheritage.org/Anuradhapura/Lankarama.html
