Mihintale

About Mihintale

Mihintale is the birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhism. On this forested mountain east of Anuradhapura, the missionary monk Mahinda - son of the Indian emperor Ashoka - met King Devanampiya Tissa during a hunt in 247 BC and converted him with a famous riddle, changing the island's history forever. Today a grand granite staircase of 1,840 steps, shaded by frangipani, climbs past the ruins of one of the world's oldest hospitals, monastic refectories, and inscription-covered caves to the great white Maha Seya stupa. The final scramble up bare rock to Aradhana Gala - the crag from which Mahinda is said to have preached - delivers a panorama over jungle and the distant white domes of Anuradhapura. At Poson full moon in June, hundreds of thousands of white-clad pilgrims ascend in one of Buddhism's great annual gatherings.

Top Activities

• ✓Climbing the 1,840-step grand staircase
• ✓Aradhana Gala rock scramble at sunset
• ✓Maha Seya stupa and Ambasthala dagoba
• ✓Ruins of the ancient monastic hospital
• ✓Combine with Anuradhapura's sacred city

Nearby Attractions

Closest Places in This Guide

Straight-line distances; allow considerably longer by road, especially in the hills.

• Jetavanaramaya StupaHeritage · Cultural12 km
• Kuttam Pokuna (Twin Ponds)Heritage12 km
• Samadhi Buddha StatueHeritage · Cultural12 km
• VessagiriyaHeritage · Nature12 km
• ThuparamayaHeritage · Cultural12 km
• Ruwanwelisaya StupaHeritage · Cultural13 km

Travel Tips

Travel Guides That Cover Mihintale

• Sri Lanka Itinerary: 7, 10 and 14-Day Routes That Actually WorkThree routes for a first trip, built around realistic travel times, the current state of the hill-country railway and the coast that is in season.
• Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka: A Month-by-Month GuideTwo monsoons take turns on opposite coasts, so somewhere is always in season. Where the weather is good in each month, and the festivals and wildlife worth timing a trip around.