Rankoth Vehera

Rankoth Vehera: A Majestic Stupa of Polonnaruwa

Rankoth Vehera is a significant Buddhist stupa located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Constructed entirely of brick, it stands as one of the most revered religious structures in the region and is notable for its considerable size, being the largest stupa in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest in the entire country.

Historical Context and Construction

The stupa was commissioned and built by King Nissanka Malla, who ruled Sri Lanka from 1187 to 1196 CE. Its design follows the architectural traditions of the stupas found at the Anuradhapura Maha Viharaya and bears a strong resemblance to the famous Ruwanwelisaya. In fact, a stone inscription near the monument refers to it as "Ruwanweli," though it has since become widely known as Rankoth Vehera. This name, derived from Sinhalese words 'ran' (gold), 'kotha' (pinnacle), and 'vehera' (stupa/temple), roughly translates to "Gold Pinnacled Stupa," alluding to its former splendor.

Architectural Features

Rankoth Vehera boasts an impressive base circumference of 550 feet (170 m) and a current height of 108 feet (33 m). While renovations by subsequent rulers have altered its upper structure, historical estimations suggest its original height may have been close to 200 feet (61 m). The stupa is characterized by four large Vahalkadas, brick structures typically used for presenting offerings and providing structural support. It is centrally positioned on a vast square terrace enclosed by a brick wall, with sand paths leading to four entrances aligned with the cardinal directions. A stone inscription near one of these entrances indicates that King Nissanka Malla personally supervised the construction from that vantage point and also worshiped the stupa from a nearby small platform.