Rankot Vihara Stupa

SRI LANKA, North Central Province, Polonnaruwa

Rankot means Golden Finial. It was built during the rule of King Nissanka Malla (reigned 1187–1196). The stupa is the largest monument in Polonnaruwa. As part of the Ancient City of Polonnaruwa, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The main stupa is the most prominent structure among many smaller halls and stupas within the complex. The stupa is 55 m high and is constructed on a square platform, which is surrounded by a wide circumambulation passage. The circular base of the stupa is three layers high and the bottom layer has a diameter of 56.7 m. There are small brick shrines at each of the cardinal points of the stupa. The large undecorated inverted bowl shaped body stands on the base. A square harmika rests on the top of the body, with an eight-petal lotus relief engraved in the center of each side. The spire consists of cone-shaped stacked rings.
The shrines and the walls of the smaller halls are richly adorned with reliefs and decorative pilasters, reflecting the height of sculptural art during the Polonnaruwa period (11th–13th century).