Mihintale is just 13km east of Anuradhapura and is of enormous importance to the majority Sinhalese (70%) of the population as this said to be where Buddhism was introduced to the island in 247BC when King Devanampia Tissa met Mahinda, son of Indian Buddhist emperor Ashoka when deer hunting.

The site is dotted with ancient ruins of monasteries and it is a quite a climb to the top where all the temples are located.

Once on the high ground, there is a good view of the distance Dagobas and the water tanks of Anuradhapura.