| Kantaka Chaitiya |
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Kantaka Chaitiya is one
of the earliest religious monuments on the island, excavated
in 1934. The 130 m (425 ft) base consists of three giant steps
of dressed stone, characteristic of Sinhalese stupas. The dome
above has worn out reaching a mere 12 m (40 ft) height. |
| Dhatu Ghara |
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Dhatu Ghara is a relic house containing
the Mihintale tablets that state the rules and regulations that
governed the monks. |
| Assembly Hall |
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Assembly Hall is where the monks
met to discuss matters of interest. |
| Monks Refectory |
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Monks Refectory is the central courtyard
where the monks ate communally. |
| Aradhana Gala |
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Aradhana Gala is the Rock of Convocation
where Arahat Mihindu Thera preached his first sermon. |
| Mahaseya Dagaba |
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Dating back to the 1st century BC,
is the largest stupa in Mihintale. It enshrines a single hair
relic of the Lord Buddha. |
| Mihindu Seya |
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Mihindu Seya is where a small golden
reliquary was discovered along with a bronze statue. This resembles
the earliest Indian stupas surmounted by an umbrella. |
| Mihindu Guha |
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Arahat Mihindu Thera's bed was a
smooth slab of stone. An enormous boulder towered above it and
was its roof. This was where the Arahat reposed. |
| Naga Pokuna |
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Naga Pokuna is a long pool in the
shadow of a large low rock. It is carved with a mythical five-headed
cobra. This is the pond of the serpent. The Naga (Cobra) is
supposed to be the guardian of treasure, protector of water
and maker of rain. The carving on the rock emphasizes its association
with water. It is said that the Naga's tail reaches down to
the bottom of the pool. |
Sinha Pokuna
(Pond of the Lion) |
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The Lion gargoyle spurts water into
a square bath surrounded by a wide step carved with a frieze.
|
Kaludiya Pokuna
(Pond of black water) |
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An artificial pond at the foot of
the Western slope of Mihintale. It served a monastery of the
10th or 11th century. |
Indikatuseya
Dagaba
(Stupa of the needle) |
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Only the base of the stupa exists
now, adorned only with broad bands of dressed stone. |
| Hospital |
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Dates back to the third century
AD, some 400 years before the earliest hospital in Europe. Among
the remnants of the walls and pillars are the basins for bathing
the sick. These medicinal boats were hewn from a single rock
and the internal cavern was shaped to immerse a recumbent body.
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Dating
back to 247 BC, this is a monastic city of caves, temples and ruins
where Buddhism first took a hold of the island. The then ruling King
Devanampiyatissa, was a pen pal of Emperor Asoka of India. The Emperor
sent his son, Arahat Mihindu Thera (a Buddhist Priest), to impart
the Buddhist philosophy to his friend in Sri Lanka. It was at Mihintale
that the King met Arahat Mihindu Thera and had his first introduction
to Buddhism.