Things to do in Mihintale
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Kantaka Chetiya
At the first landing of the Stairway, on Mihintale, a small flight of steps leads to this partly ruined dagoba off to the right. It is 12m high (originally it was higher than 30m) and 130m around at its base. A Brahmi inscription found nearby records donations for the dagoba. While exactly who built it is open to conjecture, Devanampiya Tissa (r 247–207 BC) had 68 cave monasteries built, and the dagoba would have been constructed near these. King Laji Tissa (r 59–50 BC) enlarged it. So the dagoba was built sometime in between, and is certainly one of the oldest at Mihintale. It is noteworthy for its friezes. Four stone flower altars stand at each of the cardinal points, a…
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Mahaseya Dagoba
A stone pathway to the southwest of the Ambasthale Dagoba leads up to a higher dagoba (arguably the largest at Mihintale), thought to have been built to house relics of Mahinda. The bodhi tree to the left of the base of the steps is said to be one of the oldest surviving ones. From here there is a view over the lakes and trees to Anuradhapura, a horizon studded with the domes and spikes of all the massive dagobas. A small temple at the foot of the dagoba has a reclining Buddha and Technicolor modern frescoes – donations are requested. A room at the side is a devale (a complex designed for worshipping a Hindu or local Sri Lankan deity) with statues of major gods – Ganesh, …
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Ambasthale Dagoba
The final steep stairway of Mihintale hill, lined with frangipani trees, leads to the place where Mahinda and King Devanampiya met. The Ambasthale Dagoba is built over the spot where Mahinda stood. Nearby stands a statue of the king in the place where he stood. On the opposite side of the dagoba from the statue is a cloister and behind that, a large, white sitting Buddha statue. Stone pillars surround the dagoba and may once have been used to hold offerings (or if you believe the local theory, to support a wooden roof). You must remove your shoes and hat, and umbrellas aren’t allowed.
The name Ambasthale means ‘Mango Tree’ and refers to a riddle that Mahinda used to tes…
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Naga Pokuna
Halfway back down the steep flight of steps from the Ambasthale Dagoba, a path leads to the left, around the side of Mihintale hill topped by the Mahaseya Dagoba. Here you’ll find the Naga Pokuna (Snake Pool), so called because of a five-headed cobra carved in low relief on the rock face of the pool. Its tail is said to reach down to the bottom of the pool. If you continue on from here, you eventually loop back to the second landing of the Stairway.
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Indikatu Seya Complex
Located on the road leading to Old Rd and outside the site proper are the remains of a monastery enclosed in the ruins of a stone wall. Inside are two dagobas, the larger known as Indikatu Seya (Dagoba of the Needle). Evidence suggests that this monastery was active in fostering Mahayana Buddhism. The main dagoba’s structure differs from others in Mihintale; for example, it’s built on a square platform.
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Sinha Pokuna
Just below the monks’ refectory on the second landing, and near the entrance if you are coming via the old road, is a small pool surmounted by a 2m-high rampant lion, reckoned to be one of the best pieces of animal carving in the country. Anyone placing one hand on each paw would be right in line for the stream of water from the lion’s mouth. There are some fine friezes around this pool.
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Museum
This small museum is situated on the road leading to the Mihintale stairs. Each room is dedicated to particular finds, including bronze figurines, fragments of frescoes and remnants of stone tubs. The collection includes a replica of the interior of an 8th-century dagoba and a 9th-century gold-plated ola manuscript. Pottery fragments from China and Persia are also on display.
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Stairway
In a series of flights, 1840 ancient granite slab steps lead majestically up the Mihintale hillside. The first flight is the widest and shallowest. Higher up the steps are narrower and steeper. If you have a problem with stairs, Old Rd from the west avoids most of them.
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Mahinda’s Cave
A path leading northeast from the Ambasthale Dagoba goes down to this cave where there is a large flat stone. This is said to be where Mahinda lived and the stone is claimed to be where he rested. The track to the cave is hard on tender bare feet.
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Rajagirilena
Nearby to Indikatu Seya is this hill that’s been dubbed Rajagirilena (Royal Cave Hill) after the caves found here with Brahmi inscriptions in them. One of the caves bears the name of Devanampiya Tissa. A flight of steps leads up to the caves.
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Et Vihara
At an even higher elevation (309m) than the Mahaseya Dagoba are the remains of a dagoba called Et Vihara (literally, ‘Elephant Monastery’). The origin of the name is open to conjecture, but it may have been named after the monastery nearby.
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Kaludiya Pokuna
Along the same road as the Indikatu Seya Temple Complex is the Kaludiya Pokuna (Dark Water Pool). This artificial pool was carefully constructed to look realistic, and features a rock-carved bathhouse and the ruins of a small monastery.
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Sela Chetiya
Nearby to the Ambasthale Dagoba is the Sela Chetiya, which has a stone rendering of the Buddha’s footprint. It’s surrounded by a railing festooned with prayer flags left by pilgrims, who have also scattered coins here.
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Monks’ Refectory
At the top of the flight of steps, on the second landing of the Mihintale Stairway, is the monks’ refectory with huge stone troughs that the lay followers kept filled with rice for the monks.
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Aradhana Gala
To the east of Ambasthale Dagoba is a steep path over sun-heated rock leading up to a point with great views. A railing goes up most of the way. Aradhana Gala means ‘Meditation Rock’.
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