The 75 meter high Abhayagiri stupa was constructed in the reign of King Vattagamini Abaya (commonly known as King Valagamba) in the 1st Century BC after the defeat of the Inidan Invaders in the country.
Burrows Pavilion is thought to be the entrance to the oldest Bodhighara in the Abayagiri Complex where the Third Samadhi Statue lies. This canopy has been restored by S. M. Burrows, thus the name.
The rock cave complex known as the ‘Digapashana Caves’ is also known as the ‘Sudassana Patanagharaya’ lies about 500 meters west to the Abhayagiri Stupa. There are 9 caves with drip ledges in this complex are now under excavation and restoration.
This Buddha Statue and the Bodhi-ghara (Bo tree Shrine ) belongs to the Abayagiri Aramic Complex. This site is popularly known as the 2nd Samadhi Statue of Anuradhapura.
Samadhi Statue is considered one of the best sculptures in the Anuradhapura era. It is thought to be done during the 3rd or the 4th century. It is made out of dolomite marble and stands 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 metres) in height.
This was a special shrine in Uttara Mula in the Abayagiri Monastery utilized for ritual purposes associated with relics of Buddha. Paying homage to the relics of Buddha was a popular ritual in the Abayagiri Monastery. This building has been recognized as a Relic Shrine from the architectural features.
Located close to the Uttara Mula this is considered the main refectory of the Abayagiri Monastery. This is a square building with 42.7m on one side. Four stages of construction from early as 1st century BC has been found during the excavation of the site.
Rathna Prasada at Anuradhapura is the Uposatha house of the Abhayagiri Vihara Complex built by King Kanitta Tissa (192-194 AD). What Lova Maha Prasada was to Maha Vihara complex, Rathna Prasada is to Abhayagiri.
This small stupa lies between the Ratnaprasada and the 3rd Samadhi Statue of Abayagiri Monastery called Indikatu Seya or Prasada Stupa in Anuradhapura. It is built surrounding a small rock and belongs to the Prasada type of Stupa similar to the Satmahal Prasada in Polonnaruwa.
Unknown to many, this moonstone lies at the entrance of a ruined building just behind the Ratnaprasada in Anuradhapura. This site is seems to be rarely visited without even a visible footpath. The most popular moonstone among the pilgrims and tourists lies on the building called Biso Maligaya. According to a plaque installed by the Department of Archeology, This moonstone is the most exquisite artistic creation of a moonstone found in Sri Lanka according to Prof. Senarath Paranawithana.
This Pancavasa located in the Abayagiri Monastery in Anuradhapura, now commonly known as Biso Maligaya or the queen’s palace for no apparent reason is most famous for the moonstone found in the main flight of stairs on the center building. This moonstone is considered one of the best and most well-preserved moonstone in this era. This moonstone is believed to be belonging to the 7-8 th Centuries.
The Lankaramaya stupa was built on the 1st century BC by King Vattagamini Abaya (Walagamba). The ancient name of this temple is “Silasobbha Khandaka Cetiya”
Kuttam Pokuna or the twin ponds are another hydrologic engineering marvels of the ancient Sri Lanka. These two ponds belong to the Abayagiri aramic complex and probably been used by the monks for bathing. The origins of these ponds are not known but it is thought to have been built during the reign of King Aggabodhi I (575-608).
The gigantic man-made pond, Eth Pokuna is situated close to Lankaramaya. This is 159 meters in length 52.7 meters across and 9.5 meters in-depth with the holding capacity of 85,000 cubic meters of water.
The ruins of the building known as Daladage is believed to be the Temple of Tooth built after the defeat of Colas by king Mahinda IV (956-972 AC) who was the last great builder in the Anuradhapura era.
To the north east of royal palace of of king Vijayabahu I, lies Gedige, between some other ruins rarely visited by pilgrims. Although the history of this structure is not known, the building has been built entirely from bricks, a rarity in Anuradhapura.
Abhayagiri Monastery is situated on the ancient city of Anuradhapura and is credited to king Vattagamini Abaya popularly known as king Walagamba ( 103 BC, 89-77 BC). Proof has been found that a Jain temple has existed on this land in the 5th century BC during the rule of King Pandukabaya (437-367 BC).
Uttara Mula is the name which identifies the most ancient congregation of bikkus in the Abhayagiri Monastery and their head quarters. In ancient times when the the sacred tooth relic of Buddha was in Abhayagiri, Uttara Mula Bikkus were the custodians of it.
This Samadhi Statue along with the the ‘Bodhighara’ (Bo tree Shrine) and the ‘Asanaghara’ (the shrine of the Buddhas Seat) is located close to the Ratnaprasada and belongs to the Abayagiri Aramic Complex. The origin of this statue is unknown.
