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around its base. A Brahmi inscription found
nearby records donations for the dagoba. It’s
noteworthy for its friezes. Four stone flower
altars stand at each of the cardinal points, and
surrounding these are well-preserved sculp-
tures of dwarfs, geese and other figures.
While exactly who built it is open to con-
jecture, Devanampiya Tissa (r 247–207 BC)
had 68 cave monasteries built, and the dago-
ba would have been constructed near these.
King Laji Tissa (r 59–50 BC) enlarged it. So the
dagoba was built sometime in between.
South of the Kantaka Chetiya, where a big
boulder is cleft by a cave, if you look up you’ll
see what is thought to be the oldest inscrip-
tion in Sri Lanka, predating Pali in Sri Lan-
ka. The inscription dedicates the mountain’s
shelters to meditation, now and for eternity.
Through the cave, ledges on the cliff face act-
ed as meditation retreats for the numerous
monks once resident here. There are around
70 different sites for contemplation.
oMonks’ Refectory
& Relic House rUIN
On the second landing is the monks’ refectory
with huge stone troughs that the lay followers
kept filled with rice for the monks.
Nearby, at a place identified as the mon-
astery’s relic house, are two inscribed stone
slabs erected during the reign of King Ma-
hinda IV (r 975–91). The inscriptions laid
down the rules relating to the relic house
and the conduct of those responsible for it.
One inscription clearly states that nothing
belonging to the relic house shall be lent or
sold. Another confirms the amount of land
66
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Old Rd
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Monks'
Refectory
& Relic House
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Mihintale e#^0400 .2 mile^00 sm

Mihintale

æ Top Sights

1 Monks' Refectory & Relic

House..................................................C2

æ Sights

2 Ambasthale Dagoba.............................D2

3 Aradhana Gala.......................................D2

Assembly Hall.................................(see 1)

4 Bodhi Tree.............................................D 2

5 Buddha Statue......................................D2

6 Et Vihara.................................................B 3

7 Hospital..................................................B 1

8 Indikatu Seya Complex........................A2

9 Kaludiya Pokuna...................................A 3

10 Kantaka Chetiya....................................B 2

11 Mahaseya Dagoba................................C2

12 Mahinda's Cave.....................................D2

13 Museum.................................................B 1

14 Naga Pokuna.........................................C 2

15 Quincunx................................................C 1

16 Rajagirilena ...........................................A2

17 Sela Chetiya...........................................D2

18 Sinha Pokuna........................................B2

19 Statue of the King.................................D2