Sights in Tissamaharama
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Tissa Wewa
The centrepiece of the town and its surrounds is the lovely Tissa Wewa, a huge man-made lake about 1.5km from the town centre. In the evening check out the huge flocks of egrets that descend onto the trees around the lake to roost. Pleasant boat trips are possible around the lake (Rs 500 per boat, per hour) from the Independent Jeep Association car park. Fight tooth and nail for a deal.
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Dagoba
The large white restored dagoba between Tissa town centre and the wewa is believed to have been built by Kavantissa, a king of the kingdom of Ruhunu, which centred on Tissamaharama. The 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.
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Museum
This small museum, next to the dagoba, contains an extraordinary range of treasures dug up from around the dagoba, including an ornate, ancient bidet, which – as well as an elaborate filtration system that prevented any water pollution – had murals of ugly faces carved into it in order to stop the user thinking about sex! Its hours vary.
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Yatala Wehera
Next to the Tissa–Deberawewa road is Yatala Wehera, 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.
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