If you travel to Anuradhapura, you just have to go to Mihintale. This is a bit far away from Anuradhapura city, and this place alone is better than any other sites in the Central Anuradhapura Archaeological site.
We went there by bus early in the morning from Anuradhapura city. The bus number was 835. It took us less than an hour, and cost 30 LKR for each person. The entry fee of this place was 500 LKR per person.
You need to buy the ticket before starting the climb to the Great stairways. But before that, dont miss out the other places, including 68 caves, lion pond, etc…
68 caves is an amazing place. Its an amazing adventure when you just keep going further and further, and caves after caves, they just dont seem to end.
When you reach the mountain top, leave your shoes at the shoe rack, or inside your bag. Then you’ve got 4 places to visit. A doguba at the center, buddha statue on the left, mihintale rock straight ahead, and another large doguba on right. Climbing to the top of Mihintale rock is a superb adventure, and view from there is simply amazing.
When you are climbing down from mountain top, just after the great stairways, turn left, and you will find a secret path to “Eth Vehara”. Eth Vehara is the highest point in Mihintale mountain. There is a small doguba on top. And the stairways are ancient, decayed, and risky. Its not very safe. But you should try out if you are interested. On you way down from Eth Vehara, when you reach the junction where there is a sign board describing “Eth vehara”, find a secret stairways going up towards the opposite direction of Eth vehara. Follow this path, and you will reach “Naga pokuna”. This is a very beautiful lake on the edge of a big piece of rock. Really a beautiful place to travel.
Overall, we really really liked Mihintale, and u must say, dont leave Anuradhapura before visiting Mihintale.
Travel Date: 20th October, 2013
August 22, 2014 at 9:53 am • Permalink •
Awesome content, thank You !!