Mihinthalaya Sri Lanka

Mihinthalaya, located about 6 miles from Anuradhapura, has a significant place in the history of Sri Lanka. Arahath Mahinda, son of Indian emperor Asoka who came with the message of Lord Buddha, met King Devanampiyatissa near Mihinthalaya on a full moon day in the month of June. The King embraced Buddhism and made Sri Lanka a Buddhist country.
It is one of the famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites, and you can see monuments and several archaeological sites in Mihinthalaya.

Arahath Gala

According to legends, Arahathe Mahinda and his entourage travelled though air to Sri Lanka from India and landed on the top of Arahath gala. You can climb to the summit of the rock and enjoy the scenic beauty of the area. It has trailing to support visitors to climb to the top.

Mahinda Cave

When you walk from Ambusala Dagaba towards the rock, you can see a cave known as Mahinda cave, where Arahath Mahinda was residing during his time preaching Buddhism. You can see a flat slab on which Arahath Mahinda used to sit and rest.

Maha Stupa

King Mahanaga who ruled Sri Lanka after King Devanampiyathissa built Maha saya, the largest stupa in Mihinthalaya with a base of 136 feet. It is one of the fully resorted dagab in Mihinthalaya.

Ambusala Dagaba

It is closer to the rock summit where Arahath Mahinda landed on arriving in Sri Lanka. King Makalantissa built it to enshrine the relic of Arahath Mahinda. According to folklore, Arahath Mahinda had met King Devanampitathissa at the same place where Ambusala Dagaba was constructed. The ruins indicate that there had been a house encircling the Dagaba in the past.

Naga Pokuna

Naga Pokuna, constructed by King Agbo 1, is one of the famous tanks in Mihinthalaya. It derives this name because of the figures of snakes that are carved in the hood of the pond.

Kaludiya Pokuna

Kaludiya Pokuna got its name as the water in the tank is black. Kalu means black and diya means water in Sinhala. According to legends, one monk, named Kalu Buddha Rakkhitha, sat near Kaludiya Pokuna and preached a sermon based on Kalakarama Sutta, and the water in the pond became black thereafter.

Ruin of a Hospital

Archaeologists have found ruins of an ancient hospital at the foot of the mountain. During excavations, they have unearthed a stone canoe used to keep patients and stone inscriptions. There had been a monastery near the hospital.

Kantaka Chithya

According to historian, King Surathissa built this magnificent stupa, the largest one in Mihintalaya. Built on a three steps rim, Kantaka Chithya has a perimeter of 445 feet. The four main entrances, or Vahalkada, are decorated with sculptures of dwarfs, animals, human, diving figures and floral motifs. It has a sculpture of Ganapathi, a Hindu God, at the entrance. On the top of the each entrance, you can see four different animals- elephant on the east, lion on the north, and horse on the west and bull on the south.
During your visit to Sri Lanka, make sure to see this magnificent place, Mihinthalaya, where Buddhism first came to Sri Lanka.