Nothing but a mass of tall stone columns remains of the Lovamahapaya, which was one of the greatest monuments in Anuradhapura from the early 1st Century BC. It was constructed upon the patronage of King Dutugemunu, the so-called hero of the Great Chronicle. The vast structure is said to have had nine floors and was part of a great complex including a house of ordination (uposathaghara) and a simamalakaya. However, this building has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times during the history of the northern kingdoms. Presently the side of the construction is about 120 feet long and there are forty of these slim pillars in forty rows. This building was constructed as a chapter house for the monks. Indeed the name of the monument comes from the old name of the place, the Lohada Pasadaya, or Brazen Palace. Earlier, the roof of the building was supposedly covered with a number of bronze tiles. It was part of a massive and insane building scheme born out of a maddened zeal. For all his efforts though the palace burned down after his death. His successor, his younger brother Saddhatissa rebuilt it but with seven stories. In fact the building had nine stories only in its original conception and at all other times had far less. At times it had just five.

One of the local kings who plundered the building was Mahasen, who used the material from the Lovamahapaya for his own Mahayana monuments.

The present 1600 columns date back to the 11th Century, during the reign of Parakramabahu I of Polonnaruwa when it was last rebuilt.

Written by Vasika Udurawane for Travel Lanka Compass