Mihintale

The Buddhist history of Sri Lanka began in Mihintale, 13 km to the east of Anuradhapura. The Buddha’s message was conveyed to Lanka by the Indian Emperor Asoka’s ambassador Mahinda more than 2000 years ago. Devanampiyatissa, the King of Sri Lanka, met Mahinda in Mihintale (also known as the Mountain of Mahinda), heard his narrative, and became a Buddhist after that. The rest, as they say, is history, and Mihintale draws hordes of pilgrims because of its past. The Poson Full-moon celebration, held in May in Mihintale, a former famous monastic city, honors the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The best way to enjoy Mihintale is to climb the cliff and explore the nearby archeological sites. An old hospital’s remains may be seen at the base of the mountain, and farther up the mountain are the Kantaka Ceitya from the second century BC, the Mandapaya (pavillion), the Lion Bath, the Ambasthala Dagoba, the Aradhana Gala, and the 1st Century BC Maha Seya dagoba.