LOVAMAHAPAYA (BRAZEN PALACE)

The Bronze Palace was built to accommodate monks on pilgrimage. Its roof was covered with bronze tiles, hence its name. It was the tallest building on the island for a thousand years, from 155 BC to 933, when it was finally destroyed by King Saddhatissa. Its initial size allowed it to house a thousand monks on nine floors. Destroyed and rebuilt several times, the palace is now famous for its 1,600 stone columns.