Thuparamaya
The oldest stupa in Sri Lanka, said to enshrine the Buddha's collarbone relic, ringed by slender stone pillars that once supported a wooden roof over the dome.
Within the sacred grounds of Mahamewna Park in Anuradhapura, a graceful white domed stupa holds the distinction of being the very first Buddhist monument ever constructed in Sri Lanka, raised by King Devanampiya Tissa in the 3rd century BCE at the direct request of Arahant Mahinda, the monk who brought Buddhism to the island. Its name, combining stupa and aramaya, meaning a residential complex for monks, reflects its original dual purpose as both a shrine and a functioning monastery, and tradition holds it was built specifically to enshrine one of the Buddha's most treasured relics, his right collarbone, making Thuparamaya a genuinely foundational pilgrimage site from the very earliest days of Sri Lankan Buddhism.
According to the Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lankan history, the ground on which Thuparamaya stands was itself blessed by the Buddha's own presence during his third visit to the island, a claim that places the site at the 12th position among the Solosmasthana, the sixteen most sacred Buddhist locations honored across the country, and also counts it among the Atamasthana, the eight most sacred sites within Anuradhapura specifically. Architecturally, the stupa is distinguished by its unusual bell shape and the concentric rings of slender granite pillars surrounding its base, remnants of a wooden vatadage roof that once sheltered the stupa entirely, a design detail that makes Thuparamaya the oldest of Sri Lanka's vatadage style circular shrines.
Having undergone restoration across successive reigns, most notably under King Vasabha, Thuparamaya remains today a formally recognized archaeological site and continues to draw pilgrims and visitors alike, its comparatively modest scale offset entirely by its status as the true starting point of Sri Lankan Buddhist architecture, the template from which the island's later, far larger stupas would eventually grow.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Covered by the Anuradhapura sacred city ticket, around USD 25
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
- Best time: Daytime
Getting there
Just north of Ruwanwelisaya in the sacred city.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Thuparamaya?
- Covered by the Anuradhapura sacred city ticket, around USD 25.
- What are the opening hours at Thuparamaya?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Thuparamaya?
- Plan for 30 to 45 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Thuparamaya?
- Daytime.
- How do I get to Thuparamaya?
- Just north of Ruwanwelisaya in the sacred city.