Mihintale

 – know as the birth place of Buddhism to Sri Lanka which dates back to the time period of 247 B.C where the philosophy was introduced to King Devanampiyatisa by the Buddhist missionary Mahinda. It is now a pilgrimage site, and the site of several religious monuments and abandoned structures.From ancient times a large number of large steps were constructed to climb Mihintale. It is stated that King Devanampiyatissa constructed a vihara and 68 caves for the bhikkhus to reside in. At Mihintale there gradually grew a number of Buddhist viharas with all the dependent buildings characteristic of monasteries of that period.