The remains of the Bath-Ge or the Dana Sala or the refectory of the monks of the monastery The building is rectangular with a central courtyard open to the sky and paved with granite slabs.
The two large stone canoes of different sizes are referred to as the Bath Oruwa or the rice boat and the Kenda Oruwa or the Gruel Boat. It is believed that these troughs were once inlaid with a layer of metal. The Refectory was equipped with water cisterns and covered drains.
Interestingly the Mihintale Tablets refer to the many servants working in the refectory and their duties and allowances.
They include the Bath Ge Ledi or the warden of the refectory, Sala Jetak, the head of the servants, Pisana Salayin Dolos Janak twelve servants that did the cooking, Dar Banga Bath Pack Salayak, the servant who procures firewood and cooks food, Ni Pise Dar Nengu Salayak, the servants who bring firewood but does not cook, Negu Dare Bath Pack Salayak the servant who only cooks on firewood fetched by others.
Also See
Map of the The Refectory of Mihintale Monastery
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
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Driving Directions to The Refectory of Mihintale Monastery
Mihintale can be reached through many routes from Colombo. The two main routes are through Puttalam (Puttalama) and through Kurunegala. Traveling from Puttalam you will pass the scenic Wilpattu area. From Kurunegala, there are two main routes to Mihintale. The most common route is through Dambulla. The other route is through Galgamuwa. Out of all the routes, the most commonly used is the Kurunegala – Dambulla route (Route 2).
Route 01 from Colombo to Mihintale (A3) | Route 02 from Colombo to Mihintale |
Though : Negombo – Chilaw – Puttalam Distance :231 km Travel Time : 5.15 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Through : Central Expressway – Badagamuwa – Dambulla Distance : 223 km Travel Time : 4.45 hours Driving Directions : see on Google maps |
Route 03 from Colombo to Mihintale | Route from Anuradhapura to Mihintale |
Though : Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Padeniya – Thambuthegama Distance : 232 km Travel Time : 5 hours Driving Directions : see on Google map | Distance :15 km Travel Time : 30 minutes Driving Directions : see on Google map |
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