Probably the most imposing structure within the sacred city of Anuradhapura, the Jethawanarama Dagoba, is a brick-built stupa standing 400 feet tall believed to be the tallest of its kind anywhere in the world. Built-in the third century AD by King Mahasen, it displays the unique engineering prowess of the time as over 93 million bricks were used in its construction. The dagoba is believed to contain the sash of the Buddha and also symbolizes the discord between the Mahayana and Theravada sects at the time.

Written by Jonathan Roelofsz for Travel Lanka Compass