Abhayagiriya A UNESCO World Heritage Site

The second largest brick monument in the world the Abhayagiriya stupaya is part of a UNESCO world heritage site the Abhayagiriya monastic complex. Built in the 2nd century B.C. the Abhayagiriya sthupaya is at 300ft.in height. The Abhayagiriya institution primarily encouraged heterodox teachings that disseminated Mahayanism in Sri Lanka. Covering approximately 200 hectares this world heritage site was subjected to a high influx of foreign visitor’s namely Chinese monk Fa-Hien who lived for two years in the 5th Century. According to Fa-Hien 5000 monks were living in Abhayagiriya and 3000 monks of the Mahavihara. Apart from the Abhayagiriya sthupaya the monastic complex hosts the Samadhi Buddha statue, elephant ponds, twin ponds and other elements.