Mihintale

Mihintale
In the 3rd century BC, area of Mihinthalawa was a thick jungle area inhibited by wild animals and was a hunting ground reserved for the royals. All this changed in 250 BC when the son of the Indian Emperor Asoka, Mahinda Maha Thero arrived at the Missaka Pauwa to meet king Devamnampiyatissa for the first time and asked the famous questions to decide whether he is intelligent enough to understand the philosophy of the Buddha. Initially Mahinda Maha Thero’s residence, but later Mihinthale became a main center for Theravada Buddhism and is considered the cradle of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Mihinthale is a collection of four mountains each about 1000 feet in height.
They are
    Mihinthalawa
    Ath Vehera mountain
    Anaikutti mountain
    Rajagiri Lena mountain

Mihinthalawa is the main mountain and where the Aradhana gala (The rock of invitation) and the main Mahaseya stupa is situated.