Lankaramaya
A smaller, elegantly restored stupa from the 1st century BC set on a raised platform and ringed by three concentric rows of stone pillars.
Tucked within Anuradhapura's sacred grounds at a site once known as Galhebakada, Lankarama holds the distinction of being the second oldest vatadage style circular shrine in Sri Lanka after Thuparamaya, its origins tracing back to the reign of King Valagamba, also known as Vattagamani Abhaya, in the 1st century BCE, and possibly first known under the name Manisomarama. The stupa's founding is bound up in one of Anuradhapura's more dramatic royal survival stories, when South Indian invaders overran the kingdom shortly after Valagamba took the throne, forcing him to flee and take refuge at a place called Silasobbha Khandaka rather than face capture.
Legend holds that during that desperate escape, the king's carriage moved too slowly to outrun his pursuers, and his own queen, Somadevi, descended from the wagon to lighten its load, sacrificing her own safety so the king could flee to safety. Fourteen years later, Valagamba successfully regained his throne, and in gratitude for having survived at that refuge site, he built Lankarama on the spot, a monument born directly out of a king's narrow escape from disaster rather than any simple act of routine devotion.
Concentric rings of stone pillars still surround the stupa today, remnants of the same vatadage architectural style found at Thuparamaya, though little is known for certain about Lankarama's original form since later renovations across the centuries have reshaped much of what survives. Quieter and considerably less visited than Anuradhapura's grander monuments, Lankarama rewards travelers with both genuine architectural interest and one of the ancient city's more compelling stories of royal peril and gratitude.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Covered by the Anuradhapura sacred city ticket, around USD 25
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 20 to 30 minutes
- Best time: Daytime
Getting there
In the northern part of the sacred city, near Abhayagiri.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Lankaramaya?
- Covered by the Anuradhapura sacred city ticket, around USD 25.
- What are the opening hours at Lankaramaya?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Lankaramaya?
- Plan for 20 to 30 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Lankaramaya?
- Daytime.
- How do I get to Lankaramaya?
- In the northern part of the sacred city, near Abhayagiri.