Tissamaharama Sri Lanka

In Tissamaharama (usually shortened to Tissa), eyes are automatically drawn upwards and outwards. Upwards to the tip of its huge, snowy-white dagoba and outwards, beyond the town’s confines, to a wilderness crawling with creatures large and small, Yala National Park. With its pretty lakeside location, Tissa is a mellow and ideal base for the nearby Yala and Bundala National Parks.

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Activities in Tissamaharama

Attractions in Tissamaharama

Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara

The Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara is a Buddhist temple in Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka. It was built in the 2nd century BC by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna (Southern Sri Lanka). The site was consecrated by Lord Buddha himself, who spent some time in meditation there with 500 arhats (individuals who have reached enlightenment).[1] The Tissamaharama Dagoba which is situated in the premises of Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara is one of the largest stupas in Sri Lanka. A stupa is a Buddhist dome-shaped religious monument found largely on the Indian subcontinent and also called a dagoba in Sri Lanka.

Tissa Dagoba

This large much-restored dagoba looming between Tissa town centre and the wewa is believed to have been originally built around 200 BC by Kavantissa, a king of Ruhunu, which was centred on Tissamaharama. The white dagoba has a circumference of 165m and stands 55.8m high. It is thought to have held a sacred tooth relic and forehead bone relic. It’s attractively lit up at night. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/sri-lanka/the-south/tissamaharama/sights/religious/tissa-dagoba#ixzz3bP5FEzLD

Yatala Wehera

Lotus ponds surround this site, which has a wealth of elephant details in the carvings. There’s a small museum next to the dagoba. Amidst the dusty artefacts dug up from around the site, look for an ornate, ancient bidet sitting outside. Note the carved footpads. It's an easy walk from town. It was built 2300 years ago by King Mahanaaga in thanks both for the birth of his son, Yatala Tissa, and for his safe escape from an assassination attempt in Anuradhapura.

Tissa Wewa

Tissa Wewa is an ancient irrigation tank was built by King Devanampiya Tissa (250-210 BC). Only Panda Wewa and Abhaya Wewa are considered to be older than Tissa Wewa. The embankment of Tissa Wewa is 11,000 feet long (Two miles) and 25 feet high. The width of the top of the reservoir was found to be 12 feet to 18 feet. Base of the embankment is 160 feet. Tissa Wewa has an area of approximately 550 acres.