Mihintale is located 13 km away from Anuradhapura and is one of the main pilgrimage sites for the Buddhists. It’s called the “Cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka” as this is the place where Reverend Mahinda from India (son of Emperor Asoka in India) met King Devanampiyatissa in 247 BC and preached the Buddhist doctrine to him for the very first time, when the King was out hunting deer. This is also the first ever declared sanctuary in the world and still continues to be one since 247 BC.

Mihintale (The hill where Mahinda landed) is approached by a magnificent, wide, ancient stone stairway of 1,840 steps. Many of the buildings and monuments found in Mihintale are the oldest of such found in Sri Lanka. The vast number of rock inscriptions written in Brahmi letters found and still to be seen in Mihintale has provided much invaluable information about the history of the country, dating back to the 3rd Century BC.

There are many Dagobas (Stupas) found in Mihintale, namely, Kantaka Cetiya, Ambastala Dagoba, Maha Thupa, Ath Vehera, Girihandu Seya and Indikatu Seya. It is interesting to note that the oldest statue of God Ganesh is found at Kantaka Chetiya.

The remains of the Ancient Hospital and Alms Hall of the monks along with the Kaludiya Pokuna and the surrounding buildings (bathing pond complex of monks) are the other places of interest visited by many. There is also an interesting site museum at Mihintale.