Ruwanweli Maha Seya

One of the tallest Buddhist stupas with a height of 103 m, Ruwanweli Maha Seya is the most calming place in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The Ruwanweliseya, also known as the Mahathupa (the Great Thupa). 

 it was built in 140 BC by King Dutugamunu. This place has been a major tourist attraction housing some precious relics of Gauthama Buddha. There is a statue of King Dutugamunu at the eastern entrance of Ruwanweli Saya. Interestingly, some say that the structure of the stupa came from the view of a bubble floating on the water.

The structure represents the teachings of Buddha where the dome shows the vastness of the doctrine, the square on the dome stands for the four noble truths, the eight concentric rings for the Noble Eightfold Path and the large crystal for enlightenment. Also, this attraction takes its place in Solosmasthana and the Atamasthana. Though Ruwanwelisaya was a ruin in the 19th century, the stupa was renovated and the beauty has been brought back in the 20th century. The Kaunghmudaw Pagoda in Sagaing, Myanmar was Modelled after the Ruwanwelisaya. The Mahavamsa contains a detailed account of the construction and the opening ceremony of the stupa.

History

King Dutugamunu started the construction of the stupa. However, he died from an illness before finishing it. The construction began only after he conquered Rajarata from the Chola general Elāra.

Chola’s conquest of Anuradhapura had damaged the stupa. But during the reign of Parakramabahu I (1153–1187) it had renovated. He invaded South India, capturing large parts of Tamil Nadu. Parakramabahu used the captured Tamils for the work of renovation.