In a series of flights, 1843 ancient granite slab steps lead majestically up the hillside, passing the occasional rock inscription and side trail. The first flight is the widest and shallowest.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
8.24 MILES
Dating back to the 1st century BC, this colossal dagoba was the ceremonial focus of the 5000-strong Abhayagiri Monastery. Originally over 100m high, it…
8.08 MILES
This magnificent white dagoba is guarded by a wall with a frieze of 344 elephants standing shoulder to shoulder. Apart from a few beside the western…
8.01 MILES
The sacred bodhi tree is central to Anuradhapura in both a spiritual and physical sense. It was grown from a cutting brought from Bodhgaya in India and is…
0.26 MILES
The main ceremonial stairway, lined with frangipani trees, leads to the Ambasthale Dagoba, built over the spot where Mahinda converted Devanampiya Tissa…
7.59 MILES
The Jetavanarama Dagoba’s massive dome rises above the entire eastern part of Anuradhapura. Built in the 3rd century by King Mahasena, it may have…
0.17 MILES
Just below the monks’ refectory on the second landing, and near the entrance if you are coming via Old Rd, is a small pool surmounted by a 2m-high rampant…
8.27 MILES
The old British colonial administration building has recently been renovated and has an interesting collection of artwork, carvings and everyday items…
Anuradhapura World Heritage Site
7.57 MILES
The ruins of Anuradhapura are one of South Asia’s most evocative sights. The sprawling complex contains a rich collection of archaeological and…
Nearby The Ancient Cities attractions
0.05 MILES
The remains of a quincunx of buildings, laid out like the five dots on a die, sits beside the path leading from the museum to the stairway.
0.07 MILES
At the first landing, a side flight of 100 steps branches right to this partly ruined dagoba, one of the oldest at Mihintale. It’s 12m high (originally…
3. Monks’ Refectory & Relic House
0.12 MILES
On the second landing is the monks’ refectory with huge stone troughs that the lay followers kept filled with rice for the monks.
0.13 MILES
The sleepy ruins of Mihintale are closely associated with the earliest introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. A ceremonial staircase climbs past pools,…
0.14 MILES
On the same level as the relic house, this hall, also known as the convocation hall, is where monks met to discuss matters of common interest. The raised…
0.17 MILES
This small museum on the road leading to the stairway base is worth a short visit for its modest collection of artefacts collected from Mihintale.
0.17 MILES
Just below the monks’ refectory on the second landing, and near the entrance if you are coming via Old Rd, is a small pool surmounted by a 2m-high rampant…
0.21 MILES
Halfway back down the steep flight of steps from the Ambasthale Dagoba, a path leads to the left, around the base of the hill topped by the Mahaseya…