Mihintale Sunset Visit

Mihintale rises abruptly from the dry-zone plains about twelve kilometres east of Anuradhapura. Tradition holds that here the monk Mahinda, sent by the Indian emperor Ashoka, met King Devanampiya Tissa in the third century BCE and introduced Buddhism to the island, an event still celebrated each June at Poson.

A long flight of stone steps, said to number more than 1,800, climbs through frangipani and ancient ruins to the upper terraces. Along the way are the Kantaka Chetiya with its carved friezes, the white Ambasthala dagoba and the great Mahaseya stupa. The final scramble is up Aradhana Gala, the bare rock where Mahinda is believed to have stood. Arriving late in the afternoon means cooler stone, softer light and a long view across forest and reservoirs as the sun goes down.

It is a quiet, contemplative climb that gives context to everything you see in Anuradhapura.

Good to know

• Footwear is removed on the sacred terraces; socks help on stone that holds the day’s heat.
• Wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees; white is customary for pilgrims.
• The steps are steep in places and the top of Aradhana Gala is exposed, so a moderate level of fitness and a head for heights help.
• Carry a torch for the descent and confirm last-access times on the day.

This sunset climb can be added to any private itinerary in the Cultural Triangle, timed around your Anuradhapura sightseeing.