Travel Journal

  The picture is of Ambasthala Dagaba in Mihintale, with Mahaseya in the background.   A moderate climb of 1840 steps to the top of Mihintale mountain peak take you to the Ambasthala Dagoba on the mountain plane. It is a small stupa which is surrounded by stone pillars on which a wooden roof once stood upon known as "vatadage". Vatadage is a circular structure built around a stupa where a wooden roof was built on decorative stone pillars.    This stupa has been converted to a  vatadage style stupa in the 2nd or 3rd century. Vatadage is a unique architectural style of ancient sri Lanka found in Buddhist religious sites.      The Ambastala Dagoba is built on the spot  King Devanampiyatissa of Anuradhapura saw Buddhist monk Arhat Mahinda  for the very first time. Arhat Mahinda was standing on the "Aradanagala" peak with his group of emissaries,above the summit the king stood.   Arhat Mahinda, Emperor Ashok...

  Aradana Gala is where the Arhat Mahinda arrived from India.   Aradanagala is a  boulder on the summit of Mihintale mountain. This is from where Arhat Mahinda addressed king Devanampiyatissa for the first time. King was  hunting deer below the rock in the mango forest on the mountain plateau. Arhat Mahinda, the missionary and son of Emperor Ashoka of India, came to Mihintale to officially inaugurate Buddhism in the country in 263 B.C. Ashoka became an emperor  in India 218 years after Lord Buddha passed away. He converted to Buddhism  after seeing the mass deaths of Kalinga war which he won. Emperor Asoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across Asia.    The historical meeting of Monk Mahinda and the king 2,329 years back is commemorated annually in June on a full moon day by Buddhists across the country with Mihintale being the focal point. They make an annual pilgrimage to Mihintale summit and other historical locations i...

  (1) Ruwanweliseya Ruwanveliseya Dagoba was constructed by the Great Emperor Dutugamunu in 161 BCE and is located in the city of Anuradhapura which is a UNESCO world  Heritage site. It is also referred to as Ratnamali Mahaseya, and Svarnamali Seya. The Ruwanveliseya enshrines a Drona of Buddha's relics is a sacred place of worship to Buddhists. (2) Kuttam Pokuna The said pair of pools were built by the Sinhalese in the ancient kingdom of Anuradhapura. These are considered one of the significant achievements in the field of hydrological engineering and outstanding architectural and artistic creations of the ancient Sinhalese (Wikipedia). Location: Anuradhapura. August 2018 (3) Mahawilachchiya Reservoir Mahawilachchiya reservoir was constructed by Prince Saliya, the son of king Dutugemunu (161-131 BC) in the 140 BC. The village was recreated around the Mahawilachchiya reservoir.Mahawilachchiya village is located 40 kilometers away from Anuradhapura city.  The village ...