is opposite the museum. It was begun to house relics; priests
from all over India were recorded as being present at the
enshrinement of the relics in 140 BC. A huge dagaba, It is
surrounded by the remains of lots of buildings. you can see the
columns often no more than 500 cm in height dotted around in the
grass underneath huge rain trees where monkeys play. The dome is
80m in diameter at its base and 53m high. A small passage leads
to the relic chamber. At the cardinal points are four ' chapels'
which were reconstructed in 1873, when renovation started. The
restoration has flattened the shape of the dome, and some of the
painting is of questionable style, but it remains a remarkably
striking monument. Today, you may find watching the dagaba being
"white washed"- an interesting spectacle.