Jethawanaramaya of Anuradhapura Kingdom

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The Jethavanaramaya Stupa, built by King Mahasen (276–303 CE), is the largest stupa in Sri Lanka. Originally rising to about 122 metres (400 feet), it was the third tallest structure in the world at the time of its construction. Even today, as a monument constructed entirely of brick, Jethavanaramaya remains the tallest structure of its kind in the world.

The Birth of Jethavanaramaya Monastery

The origins of the Jethavanaramaya monastery are linked to religious disputes within the Buddhist monastic community. During the fourth year of King Gothabhaya’s reign (253–266 CE), the controversial Vaitulyavada doctrine resurfaced among monks of the Dhammaruci Nikaya at the Abhayagiri Monastery. Earlier, during the reign of King Voharika Tissa (214–236 CE), a similar movement had been suppressed and its texts destroyed in order to protect the orthodox teachings of the Maha Vihara.

At this time a respected monk named Ussiliya Tissa rejected the Vaitulyavada doctrine. Together with 300 monks who shared his views, he left the Dhammaruci Nikaya and settled at Dakunugiri Viharaya, where a senior monk named Sagala resided. Recognizing Sagala as their leader, the group came to be known as the Sagaliya sect.

During the reign of King Mahasen, Kohon Tissa Thera, a leading figure of the Sagaliya community, gained the king’s support. With royal patronage, the king began constructing the Jethavanaramaya Monastery, which included the largest stupa on the island. The monastery was established within the ancient boundaries of the Maha Vihara, in the area known as Jotivana (or Nandana) Park.

When Kohon Tissa and the king attempted to redefine the boundaries of the Maha Vihara in order to establish a separate monastery for the Sagaliya monks, the monks of the Maha Vihara protested by abandoning their monastery and moving south.

After nine months of abandonment, the Sagaliyas attempted once again to mark the boundaries of the new Jethavana monastery, relying on the royal declaration that “all unoccupied lands belong to the king.” However, the attempt failed because seven samanera (novice monks) of the Maha Vihara had secretly remained hidden in an underground tunnel during the entire period of apparent abandonment. Since the land was therefore not technically deserted, the attempt to appropriate it failed once again.

Despite this controversy, King Mahasen continued with the construction of the Jethavanaramaya within the traditional boundaries of the Maha Vihara and presented the monastery to Kohon Tissa Thera. The Sagaliya monks subsequently moved from Dakunugiri Viharaya to Jethavanaramaya, establishing their main centre there.

Later, a council of monks (Sangha Sabha) found Kohon Tissa Thera guilty of violating the disciplinary rules of the Buddhist monastic code and stripped him of his monastic status. Nevertheless, the Jethavanarama Monastery continued to flourish and became one of the largest and most influential monastic complexes in Anuradhapura for many centuries.

The monastery was built at one of the places believed to have been sanctified by the presence of the Buddha in Sri Lanka. Consequently, the site holds the fourteenth position among the Solosmasthana—the sixteen sacred Buddhist sites associated with the Buddha—and is also counted among the Atamasthana, the eight most sacred places of pilgrimage in Anuradhapura.

Architectural Features of the Stupa

The Jethavanaramaya Stupa has a circumference of approximately 366 metres (1,200 feet). Its present height is about 71 metres (232 feet), though historical sources indicate that it originally rose to around 122 metres (400 feet).

Like other stupas, it stands upon a raised platform known as the Salapatala Maluwa, which is paved with large stone slabs. This platform measures about 177 metres by 177 metres (580 feet by 580 feet). Surrounding it is a sandy courtyard called the Weli Maluwa, about 38 metres (125 feet) wide. Originally, a low wall enclosed the platform, while a stone rampart surrounded the outer courtyard.

Tradition also holds that the stupa was constructed over the cremation site of Mahinda Maha Thera. Archaeological excavations near the structure have revealed a brick wall about one metre thick adjacent to a layer of ash and charcoal. This discovery is believed to mark the chamber where the remains of the great monk were placed.

The stupa features four Vahalkada—ornamental frontispieces—at the four cardinal directions. These architectural elements had become a standard feature of stupas by the time Jethavanaramaya was constructed. Many stone slabs on the Salapatala Maluwa bear inscriptions recording the donations of devotees. Paleographic evidence indicates that the stone pavement itself dates to around the 8th century (Seneviratna, 1994).

Early Observations by Colonial Officials

During the 19th century, British administrators were deeply impressed by the scale of the monument. Between 1873 and 1874, the British mistakenly identified Jethavanaramaya as Abhayagiri (Seneviratna, 1994), a confusion that appears in some early records.

Sir Emerson Tennent described the structure as an immense mass of masonry, noting that the semicircular dome and stone platform together contain more than twenty million cubic feet of material. He observed that even with modern technology such a structure would require hundreds of workers and many years to complete.

Similarly, in 1870 L. Liesching, the Assistant Government Agent of Anuradhapura, remarked on the enormous quantity of bricks used in its construction. He estimated that the stupa contained about 456,071 cubic yards of brickwork—enough to construct a wall approximately 156 kilometres (97 miles) long, 6.7 metres (22 feet) high, and 0.6 metres (2 feet) thick.

Decline and Restoration

Like many monuments of Anuradhapura, Jethavanaramaya suffered destruction during invasions from South India. When Anuradhapura was eventually abandoned as the capital in the 11th century, the stupa gradually became overgrown with jungle.

During the Polonnaruwa period, King Parakramabahu I (12th century) initiated restoration work on the monument. However, during this reconstruction the height of the stupa was reduced from its original dimensions, resulting in the present height.

Modern archaeological excavations have uncovered several important artefacts, including nine gold plates inscribed with passages from a Mahayana text identified as a version of the Prajnaparamita Sutra. The inscriptions are written in 9th-century Sinhala script but in the Sanskrit language. Each plate weighs approximately 2.07 kilograms (73 ounces) and measures about 63.5 centimetres (25 inches) in length and 5.8 centimetres (2.3 inches) in width (Seneviratna, 1994).

Present Condition

Today Jethavanaramaya is undergoing a gradual and careful conservation programme aimed at restoring the monument as close as possible to its ancient appearance.

An ancient Wahalkada of Jethawanaramaya Stupa

Salapathala Maluwa of Jethawanaramaya Stupa is filled fith slabs with various inscriptions and designs

Jethavanarama Slab inscription of Kashapa IV ( 10th century) found under the Salapathala Maluwa and restored in 2004

There are two five hooded cobra stones on the sides of each Wahalkada at the Jethawanaramaya Stupa

A Naga and Nagini caving on the side of a Wahalkada at Jethawanaramaya Dagoba

There are two five hooded cobra stones on the sides of each Vahalkada at the Jethavana Stupa

Jethawanaramaya Image House (Patimaghara)

This image house is the largest of its kind found in the Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa era. This edifice has been built using bricks in a Gedige type, where the hemispherical brick or stone roof is the distinctive feature of such a building. Stylistically, this belongs to the late Anuradhapura period. The entrance to this building is a monolithic door, the pillars of which rise to 27 feet (8.3 meters). At the centre lies a massive pedestal made of bricks and a stone reliquary (Yanthragala) with 25 chambers where the relics would have been deposited. This evidence confirms that this was an image house and that a Buddha statue of gigantic scale once filled this image house. When discovered, the stone doorposts were broken into pieces and had fallen off. These sections have been fitted together with steel rods and supports.

There had been a circumambulating path around the statue. The floor of the image house has been paved with stone slabs. There is a vestibule and an entresol in the front of the image house. Evidence suggests that this edifice was destroyed by fire. There are also indications of two subsidiary image houses located on either side of the main image house.

The statue is believed to have been 37 feet (11.3 meters) high and carved in limestone. Based on calculations, the entire building would have stood about 50 feet (15.25 metres) high. This structure is probably the Manimekhala Prasada built by King Sena I (831–833) in the 9th century. King Sena I installed a gold image of the Buddha in this image house. King Sena II (853–887) later added an image of a Bodhisattva. During the reign of King Udaya II (887–898), the Cola invaders from India destroyed the building, after which the king partially rebuilt it. In the later stages of the Polonnaruwa kingdom, King Mahinda IV (956–972) restored this image house once again (Seneviratna, 1994).

Jethawanaramaya Image House (Patimaghara)

Inside of Jethawanaramaya Image House (Patimaghara)

The image pedestal with the relic chambers at the bottom inside Jethawanaramaya Image House (Patimaghara)

Uposthaghara (The Chapter House)

The Uposthaghara or the Chapter House of the Jethawana Monastery is found at the south-east end of the stupa. A dense group of 83 stone columns marks the site of the Chapter House

Anuradhapura Sacred City and Its Ruins—Opening Hours

There are no specific times for most of the sites. You can visit the great monasteries of the pre-Christian era from morning to dusk any day of the year. However, currently functioning major stupas and other holy sites where pilgrims come to worship are open till about 9-10 PM.

Anuradhapura Ancient City Ruins—Ticket Prices / Entrance Fees

All foreign tourists are required to purchase a ticket to visit the sacred city of Anuradhapura. The Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Ticket provides access to most of the sacred city’s heritage sites and ruins, though it does not include entry to the Sri Maha Bodhi and Isurumuniya, which require separate tickets for tourists. With this ticket, visitors can explore the Ruwanweli Seya together with the surrounding ruins, including the Lovamahapaya and the remains of both the vast Abhayagiri Monastic Complex and the Jetavanaramaya Monastic Complex. The ticket also covers other important monuments within the city, including Thuparamaya, Lankaramaya, and all other sites.

Entry to the Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum, as well as the museums at Jetavanaramaya and Abhayagiri, is not covered by the cultural heritage ticket. Each of these museums requires a separate entry ticket, which can be purchased directly at the respective entrances.

Most of the more popular sites in Anuradhapura strictly check for tickets from tourists, while the less-visited sites tend to be more relaxed due to the lack of staff. However, tourists should be cautious, as some unscrupulous tuk-tuk drivers may attempt to exploit this situation. They sometimes offer to take visitors along routes where ticket checks are less common or even try to collect the entrance fee themselves, claiming they will purchase the tickets on the visitor’s behalf. Travelers are strongly advised not to fall for such scams, as this can lead to unnecessary complications with site security or the police.

Where to Buy Tourist Tickets to Anuradhapura Sacred City

The most convenient way to purchase the tickets is online through the Central Cultural Fund ticket portal. Physical tickets could be purchased from few ticket counters located in various places in the sacred city, such as ;

At the main Anuradhapura Archaeological Museum
At the Jetawanarama Museum
At the Abhayagiri Museum

Anuradhapura Cultural Heritage Tickets	Price per Head
Foreign – Adult	USD 30.00
Foreign – Children (3-12 Years)	USD 15.00
Foreign (SAARC) – Adult and Children	USD 15.00
Locals	Free

Other Names : Jethawanaramaya, Jetawanaramaya, Jethawanaya, Jetawanaya, Jethawana Viharaya, Jetawana Viharaya, Jethavanaramaya, Jetavanaramaya, Jethavanaya, Jetavanaya, Jethavana Viharaya, Jetavana Viharaya

References

B.W. Harischandra, 1908. The Sacred City of Anuradhapura. With Forty-six Illustrations. 1st ed. Colombo: Brahmachari Walisingha Harischandra.
Devendra, D.T., 1952. Guide to Anuradhapura. 2nd ed. Colombo: [Govt. Press], p.27-28.
Ievers, R.W., 1899. Chapter II. In Manual of the North-Central Province, Ceylon. Colombo: G.J.A. Skeen, Govt. Printer.
Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Seneviratna, A., 1994. Ancient Anuradhapura. 1st ed. Colombo: Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka.
Senaveratne, J. M. (1930). The Story of the Sinhalese : From the Most Ancient Times Up to the End of “The Mahavansa” or Great Dynasty. W. M. A. Wahid & Brothers.
Smither, J. and Wikramagamage, C., 1993. Architectural Remains, Anurádhapura, Ceylon; comprising the dágabas and certain other ancient ruined structures. Measured, drawn and described by J.G. Smither. 2nd ed. (revised) Colombo: Academy of Sri Lankan Culture, pp.68-73

Also See

Jetawanarama : Biggest dagoba ever built – by Kishanie S. Fernando – Daily Mirror
Anuradhapura – The city of the God Kings
Solosmasthana – The Sixteen Buddhist Sacred Sites Hollowed by Buddha
Atamasthana – The Eight Sacred Sites in Anuradhapura

Jethawanaramaya Map

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Driving Directions to Anuradhapura

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Bus

Anuradhapura can be conveniently reached by bus, train, or private transport. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate from the Colombo Fort Main Bus Station. In addition, luxury buses departing from various locations in Colombo travel via Anuradhapura to Vavuniya and Jaffna; these require advance online booking and generally operate overnight, arriving at their final destinations early in the morning.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Train

Five daily trains operate from Colombo Fort Railway Station to Anuradhapura. Typically, the first train departs at 9.40 a.m. and the last at 8.30 p.m. The journey takes approximately four to five hours, depending on the number of stops made by the particular service.

Colombo to Anuradhapura By Car or Van

Anuradhapura can be accessed from Colombo via several routes, with the two primary corridors running through Puttalam and Kurunegala. The Puttalam route passes the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main approaches: the more commonly used route via Dambulla and an alternative route via Galgamuwa. Among all options, the Kurunegala–Dambulla route (Route 2) is the most frequently used.

Route 01 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route 02 from Colombo to Anuradhapura
Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance from Colombo: 210 km Travel time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps.
Route 03 from Colombo to Anuradhapura	Route from Kandy to Anuradhapura
Through : Katunayake Expressway – Narammala – Wariyapola – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance from Colombo: 203 km Travel Time: 4.30-5.00 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps	Through: Katugastota – Matale – Dambulla Distance from Colombo: 136 km Travel Time: 3.5 hours Driving Directions: see on Google Maps