Abhayagiri Dagoba

Abhayagiri Dagoba was founded by King Vattagamani Abhaya in the 1st century BC and at its original height of approximately 115 metres was the second tallest stupa ever constructed, exceeded only by Jetavanaramaya. The Abhayagiri Monastery that surrounded it was one of the largest Buddhist monastic institutions in ancient Asia, housing up to 5,000 monks at its height and serving as a major centre for Mahayana and Tantric Buddhist scholarship alongside the more orthodox Theravada tradition. A restored carved elephant frieze rings the base, and the moonstone at the northern entrance is one of the finest examples of the form in Anuradhapura. Today the stupa stands at about 75 metres after centuries of jungle reclamation. The surrounding museum complex, Abhayagiri Museum, houses sculpture, coins, and inscriptions excavated from the monastery.