Heritage

Ramakele Stupa at Sigiriya (රාමකැලේ ස්තුපය)

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Ramakele Stupa at Sigiriya
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Ramakele Stupa belongs to Ramakele Mahanaga Pabbatha Viharaya in Sigiriya. This has also been identified as Mahanapaw Viharaya in the Sigiri graffiti and on an inscription nearby. This stupa is thought to be constructed by King Kashapa I (477-495 AD) or Mugalan I (495-512 AD).

This stupa was excavated in 1910 but the tresure hunters had beaten the Archaeologists to it. The relic chamber of the stupa was already attacked by treasure hunters and the relics were stolen. It is believed that this stupa would have housed significant relics as the relic chamber of this stupa was uniquely built.

The chamber was of 3 compartments with the bottom compartment housing a profusely carved stone replica of “Maha Meru Parwathaya”, a mythical mountain. In addition, archaeologists have discovered a quantity of coins and gems which the treasure hunters had missed. The replica of the Maha Meru Parwathaya is now housed in the National Museum in Colombo.

What remains on the stupa today is only part of the bubble-shaped body with three circular pesa walau. The diameter of the stupa is 92 feet.

Of the buildings in the forest deeper, the most important are the remains of an Image House which has a dozen pillars over 1.5 ft. in height. This building would have had 32 in all. They resemble those found twenty miles away at Menikdena. There is also a very weathered moonstone of dolomite (Devendra, 1951).

Location

Go on the road leading to Sigiriya from Inamaluwa (on Dambulla – Habarana Road). the stupa is about 1 km before the Sigiriya on the right-hand side about 50 meters into the jungle.

Ramakele Stupa Ruins at Sigiriya - රාමකැලේ ස්තුපය

References

Devendra, d t (1951) Guide to sigiriya. 3rd edn. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Ceylon Govt. Press.

Also See

Map of Ramakele Stupa

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Travel Directions to Ramakele Stupa

Route from Colombo to Ramakele Stupa	Route from Inamaluwa to Ramakele Stupa
Distance: 7.5 km Travel Time :15 minutes Driving Directions : see on Google map	Distance: 7.5 km Travel Time:15 minutes Driving Directions : see on Google map

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