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The cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka is Mihintale, on the Anuradhapura - Trincomalee Road, 14 km from Anuradhapura. "Missaka Pabbata" which is over 300m in height and is one of the peaks of a mountain range. Cetiyagiri, popularly known as Mihintale, is on top of the mountain. Mihindu Thero came to the island from India on the Full moon Day of June (Poson Poya) and met King Devanampiyatissa and preached the Buddhist doctrine. From ancient times a large number of large steps were constructed to climb Mihintale. It is stated that King Devanampiyatissa constructed a temple and 68 caves for the bhikkhus to reside in. At Mihintale there gradually grew a number of Buddhist temples with all the dependent buildings characteristic of monasteries of that period. You can climb 1840 granite steps leading to the summit of Mihintale.
You can visit many caves, Aradhana Gala, Kantaka Chetiya, Ambagasthalawa Stupa, the Refectory, Nagapokuna, Kaludiya Pokuna and see Mihintale inscriptions, many ruins including the hospital, medical bath, ruins of the large monastery and the archaeological museum.
There are ruins of a large hospital in Mihintale. This may have been constructed in the 10th century during the reign of King Sena II. Surgical instruments and Persian Bronze utensils have been discovered during excavations. Wards, medical troughs, medicinal sauna baths and ruins of an ancient shrine room can be seen.
