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Top Sights in Mihintale
Mihintale is an ancient monastic complex near Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province and is widely recognised as the place where Buddhism was first introduced to the island.
The site is traditionally linked to a meeting in the 3rd century BCE between the Buddhist monk Mahinda Thera and King Devanampiya Tissa, an encounter that led the ruler to adopt Buddhism and provide royal patronage to the new faith.Following this event, Mihintale became the residence of Mahinda Thera and gradually developed into a major centre of monastic life supported by successive Sri Lankan kings.Over several centuries, the area was expanded into a large monastic complex with religious structures, living quarters, and facilities designed to care for monks and pilgrims.Mihintale consists of a small mountain range with four main peaks rising to around 1,000 feet above the surrounding plains.The central peak, known as Mihintalawa, contains some of the site’s most important features including the Aradhana Gala, the Maha Seya stupa, and the Ambasthala plateau.Eth Vehera is the highest peak in the group and holds a small stupa at its summit, offering wide views across the ancient capital region.Another peak, Rajagirilena Kanda or Royal Rock Cave Hill, includes early cave dwellings used by monks and lies close to the Kaludiya Pokuna pond.Stone inscriptions found throughout the hills date from the 3rd century BCE to the 10th century CE and provide some of the earliest written records of Buddhism and organised monastic life in Sri Lanka.At the base of the hills are the remains of an ancient hospital believed to date to the 9th century during the reign of King Sena II.Access to the upper areas of Mihintale is provided by a monumental stairway of about 1,840 granite steps leading from the foothills to the main plateaus.