The Abhayagiri

The Abhayagiri Monastery was built by King Vattagamini Abhaya in 88 BCE after regaining his throne.  He constructed it over a Jain monastery, fulfilling a vow made after being mocked by a Jain ascetic while fleeing for his life from South Indian invaders.  It was the largest monastery in Sri Lanka for over 600 years and at its peak, housed as many as 5,000 monks.

The Abhayagiri  Stupa was built by King Gajabahu I in the 2nd century CE, and  stands  72  meters  high  with  a  diameter  of  94  meters.    The  Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien described the Stupa as being covered with gold and jewels when he visited it in 412 CE.  After falling into neglect and covered by the jungle, it was rediscovered by the British in 1828.