After pick-up at your hotel in Anruradhapura we will first visit the famous Ambasthala Dagoba below Aradhana Rock, where Mahinda, the Buddhist missionary from India, won over the Sinhalese king for Buddhism. Ambasthala is nicely located in a saddle of the Mihintale hills. The stairways to the sanctuary are an attraction in itself and many other remnants of significance are situated close-by, such as Mahinda's stone bed in a rock shelter, the white landmark dagoba known as Mahaseya, the Cobra Pond, the amazing view point at Eth Vehera, the refectory with rice boat, and inscriptions hall.

For lunch in a local style, you will be invited to First House Mihintale, for having an impression of how the cooking is done (demonstration in the kitchen) and enjoying the taste of original Sri Lankan cuisine. You will also be able to relax and refresh and First House, before starting your afternoon program.

After lunch, you will first visit Sri Lanka's best preserved ancient dagoba which was excavated in its original shape, Kantaka Chetiya. This stupa is famous for its rich decorations in particular. Nearby is the so-called lion well known as Sinha Pokuna in Sinhala. You will also see the excavation of an ancient Ayurvedic hospital at the foot of the hills. Then we proceed to the quaint Darkwater Pond, Kaludiya Pokuna being an entire monastery in itself.

To the north of Mihintale, we will see the best preserved ancient stone bridge of Sri Lanka, the Gal Palama. Nearby is the Mahakandarawa Wewa, which is known as Crocodile Lake in English. Here you will enjoy a catamaran ride of about 20 minutes. The area is well-known for birdwaching. With a little luck, you can also observe crocodiles and elephants in the late afternoon.