Tissamaharama
Southern Province
About Tissamaharama
Tissamaharama - 'Tissa' - is far more than the safari dormitory it first appears. This was Mahagama, capital of the southern kingdom of Ruhuna from the 3rd century BC and refuge of Sinhalese royalty in turbulent times; its skyline is still commanded by some of the island's greatest dagobas, including the vast white dome of the Tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara and the ancient brick Yatala Vehera with its elephant-head wall. The town drapes around Tissa Wewa, a serene ancient reservoir where flocks of egrets stream to roost trees at sunset and stand-up paddlers glide past bathing buffalo. By day, jeeps stream out to Yala and Bundala; by evening, lakeside restaurants serve curries as flying foxes take wing. Kataragama's sacred precinct is twenty minutes east - together they make Tissa the natural hub of the deep south.
Top Activities
- ✓Tissamaharama dagoba and Yatala Vehera
- ✓Sunset birdwatching on Tissa Wewa
- ✓Yala and Bundala safaris
- ✓Kataragama evening puja trip
- ✓Lakeside cycling
Nearby Attractions
Travel Tips
Watch the egrets flight to the lake's roost trees at dusk - unmissable and free.
Book Yala jeeps through your guesthouse the evening before.
The dagobas are working temples - dress modestly.
Quick Info
Best Time
February to July
Weather
Hot and dry most of the year.
Estimated Daily Budget
6.2775°N, 81.2915°E
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