Ambastala Dagaba and the Vatadage
According to historical accounts, King Mahanaga (09–21 AC) erected the Ambastala stupa to commemorate the location where King Devanampiya Tissa received Arahat Mahinda. Ambastala is the first artifact on the upper terrace of the Mihintale complex, located atop Mihintale and reached through a staircase with 1,840 steps. While the remainder of these steps is paved with cut granite, some of them have been carved into the natural rock. This huge staircase is stunning, shaded by Araliya trees and covered in dried
Built to house a hair relic from the Buddha between the brows (known as Urna Roma), this stupa was transformed into a Vatadage during the second or third century. The Stupa's roof's stone pillars are still clearly visible. The most revered structure in the Mihintale sacred place is this Ambasthala stupa.
From here, a trail leads to the Mahasaya, a bigger stupa that is thought to have housed artifacts belonging to Arahat Mahinda.
Built to house a hair relic from the Buddha between the brows (known as Urna Roma), this stupa was transformed into a Vatadage during the second or third century. The Stupa's roof's stone pillars are still clearly visible. The most revered structure in the Mihintale sacred place is this Ambasthala stupa.
From here, a trail leads to the Mahasaya, a bigger stupa that is thought to have housed artifacts belonging to Arahat Mahinda.
