Kiri Vehera, Buddhist stupa in Kataragama, Sri Lanka.

Kiri Vehera is a white stupa in the Monaragala District of Sri Lanka, built on a square stone platform. The dome rises well above the surrounding ground level and is enclosed by a simple compound open to visitors.

The stupa is said to have been built in the 3rd century BC by a brother of a local king, during the early spread of Buddhism across the island. Inscriptions from the 2nd century show that it was known by a different name at that time.

Kiri Vehera is one of the Solosmasthana, the sixteen most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of ancient Sri Lanka, a status linked to the Buddha's third visit to the island, when he is said to have touched this ground. The stupa enshrines the hair and the ceremonial sword used by Prince Siddhartha when he left home, along with the Buddha's chair. The name Kiri Vehera means "milk shrine" in Sinhala, likely referring to the white dome.

Kiri Vehera stands 800 m north of the Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, a walk of a few minutes. The site is an active pilgrimage stop, so expect crowds during festival periods. The stupa is 95 ft high with a 280 ft circumference, and the compound is open to visitors.

The name Kiri Vehera means something close to "milk shrine" in Sinhala, most likely a reference to the bright white appearance of the dome. This name is quite different from the earlier one recorded in ancient inscriptions found at the site.