Mihindu Maha Stupa (Seya)
Mihinda maha stupa is located in the ancient complex of Mihintale, Anuradhapura District.To the west of the Mahaseya at mihintale are the remains of a smaller stupa identified as the one which king Uttiya, Devanampiyatissa’s successor built enshrining the relics of the great Sage Mahinda.
It is interesting to recount here the re-discovery of this stupa in the words of the great scholar and archeologist Dr. Senarat Paranavitana himself who discovered that what appeared to have been a heap of debris was in fact a ruined dagoba. Paranavitana embarking on the excavation of this site writes that in 1951 the base of the stupa was completely cleared of debris revealing two flights of lime stone steps with wing walls of brick which gave access from the stone paved courtyard of the Mahaseya to the terrace on which this smaller stupa stood.
The buddha images have been assigned to the 7th century A.D and therefore it is believed that this stupa had been renovated during that century. The relic embryo of the stupa is also discovered by the excavation.
About Anuradhapura District
Anuradhapura is belongs to the North Central Province in to Sri Lanka.Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka, famous for its well-preserved ruins of ancient Lankan civilization. The city, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 205 km north of the current capital Colombo in Sri Lanka.
In the sacred city of Anuradhapura and in the vicinity are a large number of ruins. The ruins consist of three classes of buildings, dagobas, monastic buildings, and pokuna (ponds). The city had some of the most complex irrigation systems of the ancient world, situated in the dry zone of the country the administration built many tanks to irrigate the land. Most of the civilians are Sinhala, while Tamils and Sri Lankan Moors live in the district.
Special places in Anuradhapura: Sri Maha Bodhiya, Ruwanweliseya, Thuparamaya, Lovamahapaya, Abhayagiri Dagoba, Jetavanarama, Mirisaveti Stupa, Lankarama, Isurumuniya
About North Central Province
North Central Province which is the largest province in the country covered 16% of total country's land area. North Central Province consist two districts called Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapure. Anuradhapura is the largest district in Sri Lanka. Its area is 7,128 km².
North Central Province has numerous potentials for Investors to start their Businesses, especially Agriculture, agro based industries and Livestock sectors. More than 65% of North Central Province's people depend on basic Agriculture and agro base industries. NCP also called "Wew Bendi Rajje" because there are more than 3,000 medium and large scale tanks situated in the province. Sri maha bodiya, Ruwanweli seya, Thuparama dageba, Abayagiri Monastry, Polonnaruwa Rankot wehera, Lankathilake are scared places in North Central Province.