Dakkhina Stupa, Buddhist temple in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
Dakkhina Stupa is a brick Buddhist stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, built with three concentric walkways that surround its central chamber. Each walkway sits at a different level, allowing people to circle the structure at varying heights as they move around it.
For a long time the stupa was mistakenly identified as another monument called Elara Sohana, until excavation work in 1946 corrected that assumption. The site was founded by King Vattagamani Abhaya, who also built a monastery alongside it and left records of his patronage.
Pilgrims walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction, which is a common Buddhist practice of devotion that visitors can watch at any time of day. Offerings of flowers and incense are placed at the base, giving the site a feel of continued active use rather than a museum piece.
The site is open to walk around freely, and no special gear is needed to explore the different levels of walkways on foot. Going in the early morning or late afternoon helps avoid the strongest heat and gives a clearer view of the structure.
The stupa site contains the longest stone slab inscription ever found in Sri Lanka, which records donations made to support the monastery's upkeep over time. This makes it one of the few places where written evidence of ancient monastic funding has survived in readable form.
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