Sri Lanka: Satmahal Prasada or 'seven-storied stupa', Polonnaruwa Quadrangle, Polonnaruwa. The Satmahal Prasada was built during the reign of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196). The stupa is apparently unique in Sri Lanka, although excavations at Annuradhapura indicate that the 2nd century BCE Digavapi Cetiya was also square in shape and built of brick. Essentially, the Satmahal Prasada is a square, pyramid-like structure (rather like a much smaller and much steeper version of the step-pyramid of King Zoser in Egypt) that once had seven levels, now reduced to six by time.

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