Mihintale Mountain, with the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, began to serve as a residential area for the venerable monks headed by Arahath Mahinda Mahathera. But soon, with the royal patronage, the sanctuary housed a multitude of monastic buildings-stupas, uposathgharas, bodhigharas- to serve the monks. Sixty-eight cave dwellings provided shade and shelter to the monks. Mihintale, the sanctuary for many thousands of laymen as well as holy men, had all the facilities and amenities for basic living.