Things to see in Thissamaharama – Great Attractions to Explore

Kirinda is a small village located close to Tissamaharama. The town is one of the most revered religious sites for the Buddhists in the island. The temple is built on top of a huge rock located on the lovely Kirinda Beach. Visitors can climb up a staircase to reach the temple and to enjoy the view from on top of the rock. According to local legends, Kirinda Temple was built in the location where the Princess Vihara Maha Devi landed after being cast away to sea as a sacrifice from Kelaniya. Kirinda Temple is just one of the many attractions that are easily accessible from most Tissamaharama hotels. A great choice for those who wish to explore these attractions is the Kithala Resort.

Yatala Vehera is an ancient Buddhist dagoba or stupa located in Deberawewa. The stupa is constructed on a large bed of flat granite stone and has a wall with sculpted elephant heads, a large moonstone and a moat around it. It is believed that the Yatala Vehera was built about 2300 years ago by the king Yatala Thissa of Ruhuna to honour his birthplace. However, some believe that the stupa was built by King Mahanaga, to mark his son Yatala Thissa's birthday. According to some historical documents, the stupa was referred to as Yattalaya and Mani Chethiya. No one knows what the stupa enshrines but many caskets, containing various relics were discovered in it.

Tissa Wewa is a highly popular attraction near Tissamaharama. It is not uncommon to see local families on road trips, stopping by the wewa to enjoy their packed lunches. The lake is an artificial reservoir that dates all the way back to the 3rd century BC. It is not completely certain whether the lake was constructed by King Mahanaga or his son, Yatala Tissa. Nevertheless, Tissa Wewa has been an instrumental part in the local agriculture.

Bundala National Park is located about 10 kilometers from Tissamaharama. This is a great place to enjoy nature's unspoiled beauty and a range of wildlife. The park features an intricate system of waterways, lagoons and even sand dunes. Bundala is mainly popular for its massive avian population. One can hope to see colorful tropical birds and a wide range of migratory and local wetland birds in all shapes and sizes. The wetland sanctuary has also gained recognition under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. There are about 150 species of birds, living within the 62 square kilometers of Bundala National Park. Some of them arrive from foreign lands such as India and Siberia to stay warm between August and April. If you have been dreaming to catch a glimpse of massive flocks of flamingos, Bundala is the place to make that dream come true. Bundala is a widely popular choice for bird watching enthusiasts and wildlife photographers.