Mihintale Temple & Mihintale Rock: The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhism

The long drive from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee stretched before us, as the sun beat down on our trusty red tuktuk we left the ancient capital and headed off along dusty roads in further exploration and the promise of exploring the birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhism. 

We broke up our journey with a stop at Mihintale Temple. An active religious site, which is perfect for backpackers on a budget to visit. We skipped Anuradhapura’s old town and opted for an Anuradhapura Budget Self-Guided Tour to save money. Mihintale also offers a cheap alternative with affordable entrance fees and plenty to see all in one site. 

Turning off from Minhitale Town we drove through shaded streets, narrowly avoiding the grey langurs leaping in front of the tuktuk and turned up a steep road to Mihintale Temple. 

Mihintale is part of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle and displays a group of dagobas, Buddhas & Temples. In fact it is known as the site of the earliest introduction to Buddhism in Sri Lanka. 

This is still an active holy site with few foreign tourists. It felt local, sacred and significant. The concrete, sandy floor singed our feet as we made our way up Mihintale Rock (300m) to take in the views of the temple and grounds below, an insight to the local religious way of life and the perfect way to end our time in the cultural heart of Sri Lanka. 

In this blog all about Mihintale we share the ticket costs, best time to visit, our experience of visiting Mihintale Rock and everything else to help you plan your trip, including how to skip 1000 steps on the way in! 

Oh, and if you’re planning your Sri Lanka Itinerary, this is a great stop on the way to Sigiriya or Trincomalee!

Contents

Introduction To Mihintale 

I'll keep this history section brief, after all, that's why you're visiting: to explore, learn and discover firsthand! But I'll share enough context so you can appreciate what you're looking at, especially if you decide to skip the guide.

Mihintale isn't just another beautiful temple complex. It's quite literally the birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhism. 

King Devanāmpiya Tissa, ruler of Anuradhapura, was hunting deer in the forests near this mountain when he encountered a stranger. Arahant Mahinda, the son of India's powerful Emperor Ashoka. This wasn't just any chance meeting. Mahinda had been specifically sent by his father to introduce Buddhism to Sri Lanka, extending the faith beyond India's borders for the first time.

The mountain, originally called "Mahinda's Hill" to honor this pivotal meeting, eventually became known as Mihintale. The king later established a monastery here, transforming these rocky slopes into one of Sri Lanka's earliest and most important religious sites.

Today, Minihtale is a sacred mountain complex featuring ancient ruins, dagobas and temples. Mihintale is considered one of the holiest sites in Sri Lanka, yet remains less touristy compared to nearby attractions.

Positioned within Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and just 16 km east of Anuradhapura, Mihintale makes the perfect pitstop while traveling between major destinations. Whether you're heading to Sigiriya's rock fortress or the beaches of Trincomalee, this sacred mountain is well worth the detour.

Where Is Mihintale?

Mihintale is located 16km from the cultural city, Anuradhapura. It is part of the cultural triangle and sits between Anuradhapura and Sigiriya. 

A couple of minutes drive from Mihintale town, the temple and site are surrounded by a forest reserve full of wildlife, especially monkeys! 

Discover The Top Things To Do In Sri Lanka!

While driving around the country for 2-months, we created a Google Pinned Map with all the places we visited and were recommended in Sri Lanka. Grab your Pinned Map today and start planning your Sri Lankan adventure! Don’t miss out...click here to view for free!

How To Get To Mihintale?

Getting to Mihintale from Anuradhapura by TukTuk or Bus

From Anuradhurpura there are a few ways to reach Mihintale, the first is by self-drive tuktuk, we hired ours from tuktukrental.com and won’t stop recommending them to other travellers. The route is simple, along the Puttalam-Anuradhapura-Trincomalee Highway for 30 minutes then a short drive through shadowy forest to the entrance. 

If you don’t have a tuktuk then the next best option is to catch the bus at New Town Bus Station heading for Mihintale Bus Station, this will take 2 hours and cost 40 Rupees. From Mihintale a tuktuk taxi can take you the rest of the way.

Or you can book onto a Tuktuk tour to Mihintale from Anuradhapura here.

Parking At Mihintale 

We parked at Mihintale Temple Car Park located at GPS 8.351613, 80.513974. From here, it’s a short walk to the ticket office. The kind workers also allowed us to drive further up to park outside the ticket office so they could watch our luggage in the tuktuk. We tipped them for doing this, it also saved our bags being tampered with by monkeys! 

The alternative car park, found at 8.352911, 80.51156, means an extra 1000 steps, you don’t want to be doing that in the heat, so head to the car park above! 

Entrance Tickets 

For backpackers on a budget (like us) the 1000 LKR entrance fee is a fraction of the cost of Anuradhapura’s old town making this a great alternative, under 12s are also free. You receive a paper ticket as proof of entrance and you can explore the whole site. 

The Minhitale temple is open from 7am - 8pm.

Tip: Guides are persistent and will charge if they share information. Politely make it clear you don’t want a guide.

Best Time to visit Minhitale Temple

The best time to visit is early morning before it’s too hot. Saying this we visited at exactly noon, but we don’t advise this as our bare feet were being burned on the unforgiving concrete ground. We spent about an hour exploring the site but you could spend longer, if your feet weren’t red raw! 

Often the temple is quiet with few people, apart from during Poson Poya, the full moon in June. 

Guide Or No Guide For Minhitale?

As soon as you arrive, local guides will offer their services. If you're on a strict budget, you can absolutely enjoy Mihintale without one, we did! But if you can spare around 800-1,000 rupees, a knowledgeable guide will certainly enrich your understanding of the site's spiritual and historical significance.

Just be aware that even casual conversations with locals who start sharing information may end with an expectation of payment.

Looking for a tour? This one includes transport from Anuradhapura

Exploring Mihintale Temple Complex 

Mihintale is a sacred complex spread across a mountain with lots to see! The site features more than 1,800 steps leading you up from the base of a ruined monastery to various religious monuments and viewpoints. If you don’t fancy the steps don’t worry, you can skip many of them by driving to the upper car park like we did. 

From the ancient monastery climb upwards to the Ambastala terrace, here you will have to take your shoes off. 

Continue upwards and you will be greeted by a brilliant white Buddha statue and several prominent stupas. From the upper levels, you'll enjoy unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside and the impressive Mahaseya Dagoba. 

What To See At Mihintale

While there are lots of different religious monuments throughout the complex, here are our favourite Mihintale attractions: 

1. Mihintale Buddha Statue

The large white Buddha is one of the most prominent and impressive spots in the complex. Standing serenely with a backdrop of the distant landscape, it is best viewed from the top of Mihintale Rock (Aradhana Gala). 

2. Aradhana Gala

This is perhaps the most historically significant spot and one of the best things to do in Mihintale. The very rock where Arahant Mahinda first met King Devanampiyatissa and introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. 

3. Maha Stupa (Mahaseya Dagoba)

This impressive white dagoba was built to enshrine relics of Mahinda Thero. Its gleaming dome stands out dramatically against the landscape and sky.

4. Ambasthala Dagoba

Located on the middle terrace, this smaller but important stupa marks the spot where Buddha is said to have rested and where Mahinda tested the king's wisdom with the famous "mango riddle" before teaching him Buddhism. 

The Sacred Bo Tree (Sri Maha Bodhi ) stands near the Ambasthala Dagoba.

This Bo tree is believed to be a sapling from the original Sri Maha Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura, which itself came from the sacred Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment.

5. Kantaka Cetiya

One of the oldest stupas in the complex dating back to the 1st century BCE. Though smaller, it features some remarkably well-preserved carvings that showcase ancient Sri Lankan craftsmanship.

6. Mihindu Seya

A more recent addition built to commemorate Mahinda, this dagoba complements the ancient structures while honoring the site's most important historical figure.

7. Lion's Pond (Sinha Pokuna)

This ancient stone bathing pool features a beautifully carved lion statue that once spouted water. It offers insight into the civilization that thrived here over 2,000 years ago.

The Natural Setting

The entire complex sits within a lush forest reserve, making Mihintale not just a cultural experience but a natural one too. As you explore, keep an eye out for monkeys, colorful birds, and giant squirrels moving through the canopy. We saw grey langurs, toque macaques and monitor lizards.  

If you're short on time, prioritise the Ambastala terrace and Aradhana Gala, these areas contain the most significant sites and offer the best views!

Our Mihintale Rock Visit Experience

While travelling we often navigate towards the natural attractions of hiking, wildlife and surf, but Mihintale gave us a glimpse into religious and historical travel that we perhaps need to start exploring more. 

The significance of Mihintale can be felt through the passion of the locals, monks and visitors that come to the mountain. We felt it was a good glimpse into the culture of Sri Lanka that we missed in Anuradhapura due to the ancient city tours being out of our budget. 

Our favourite part of visiting the grounds was walking up Aradhana Gala, which gave us views over the surrounding area with the striking white Buddah and Stupa standing out against the bright blue sky. 

What To Bring To Minitale 

Being a religious site you need to make sure to cover your knees and shoulders. Mike therefore put on his black walking trousers in 30 degree midday heat! Will someone get this boy in a sarong!

You will also need to take your shoes off before entering the top section of the site (after most of the steps). The floor is extremely hot so we saw people recommend bringing socks to protect your feet, we forgot this and can vouch for the floor to be scorching. 

You don’t need much else, cash to pay and perhaps some water.

Things To Do Around Mihintale 

Mihintale is between Anuradrapura, which is worth exploring if you’re interested in the history and culture of Sri Lanka, and Sigiriya which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. If you head to Sigiriya we recommend climbing Pidurangala, a cheaper alternative with better views!

Final Thoughts On Minhintale 

Minhintale gave us a glimpse into Sri Lanka’s cultural past. We think it’s a great stop on the way to Sigiriya or Trinco, especially if you’re driving your own tuktuk. 

There’s so much to uncover here, from ancient ruins to sacred temples. We particularly loved the walk up Mihintale Rock, where the panoramic views stretching out below made the climb more than worth it.

Where To Stay Near Mihintale 

Mihintale isn’t full of hotels, it is a small local town. Therefore we recommend you stay in Anuradhapura which is about a 30 minute drive away or 2-hour bus. 

Mihintale Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the entrance fee for Mihintale? 

The entrance fee for Mihintale is 1,000 LKR per person, and children under 12 can enter for free.

What are the opening hours of Mihintale Temple?

Mihintale is open daily from 7am to 8pm.

Is Mihintale an active religious site?

Yes, Mihintale is an active Buddhist religious site, and it’s common to see monks walking around the complex.

Do you need a guide for Mihintale?

You don’t need a guide for Mihintale, especially if you’re on a budget. We do think however we would have learnt more about the significance of the site if we did hire a guide. 

Is there a dress code for Mihintale Temple? 

Mihintale is a religious site meaning you need to cover your knees and shoulders. You will also need to remove your shoes before getting to the top. There is a place to keep your shoes safe from monkeys. 

How many steps are at Mihintale?

There are around 1800 steps from the bottom car park to the top of Mihintale. You can skip lots of this by parking at the upper car park. 

How long do you need to visit Mihintale?

Most visitors spend 1 to 2 hours exploring Mihintale, but you could spend up to 3 hours if you want to visit all the stupas and viewpoints.

What Are The Best Minitale Tours

The best way to visit Mihintale Temple is by making your own way there and if you choose hire a local guide. There are some online tours from Anurharapura like this tuktuk tour,  if you want to visit as a day trip. 

Can You Climb Mihintale Rock? 

Yes, you can climb to the top, there are metal handles helping you up all the way but it’s a little technical. 

Are There Monkeys At Mihintale Temple?

Yes, we saw lots of monkeys both toque marques and grey langurs. We parked out tuktuk at the ticket office and paid a local to watch the bags… just in case. 

Top Tips For Travelling Sri Lanka

If you’re visiting Sri Lanka here are our top travel tips:

1. Rent a Tuk Tuk as Transport  - This made our trip! Not only did we have complete freedom and flexibility it allowed us to have authentic relationships with locals. Use our code "KandM" for 5% off Tuktuk Rental.

2. Stay in Homestays - Staying in local homestays meant we experienced authentic food and the local way of life. Everyone was extremely friendly and happy to help. 

3. Don’t Forget the North - Many tourists stick to the south coast but if you have time explore places such as Anuradhapura, Trincomalee and Arugam bay!

4. Embrace The Chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!

   
   

Travel Tools To Help You Plan

These are some of the travel tools we love and use daily, by booking through our links you support our blog and help us grow, thank you.

Thank you for reading and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!