Ruwanwelisaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
Photographer’s comment: “In this picture, the rock walls and floor of Ruwanwelisaya, an ancient stupa sacred to Buddhists all over the world, are made scorching by the midday sun. A nun sits on the hot floor beside the stupa, shaded only by a single pillar, meditating for hours. This venerated site continues to draw tourists, even as locals and pilgrims make it a living monument. The challenges of preserving this space in a rapidly developing Sri Lanka remain great but Ruwanwelisaya, counted among the world’s tallest monuments, is testament to the success of this delicate balance.”
Name of photographer:
Shanmugaraja Sudakaran
Location:
Ruwanwelisaya, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
