Tissa Dagaba

The Great Stupa of Tissamaharama is located in the middle of the town center of Tissamaharama and Lake Tissamaharama. The pagoda is 55.8 meters high and 165 meters in circumference. It is said that there are a Buddha tooth relic and a forehead bone relic inside. According to legend, the park was built by King Kavantissa of Ruhunu about 200 years ago. The Ruhunu Kingdom is an ancient kingdom centered on Tissamaharama. It is considered to be the Buddha's tooth relic and the forehead bone relic, and the White Pagoda will be lit every night. The pagoda in the sunset is particularly beautiful, and flocks of birds are flying around, which is very visual. 1. The historical story On the side of the stupa is the statue of Queen Vihama Hadwi. Legend has it that Queen Vihama Hardwi's father threw his daughter into the sea as punishment for killing a monk by mistake. Vihama Hardwi narrowly escaped being rescued in Kirinde, 10km south of Tissa, and has since married Kavanitissa. Their son Dutugemunu was a Sinhalese hero who liberated Anuradhapura from Indian invaders in the 2nd century BC. 2. Near the stupa around the stupa are the much smaller Sandakirevi and Raseli stupa and the ruins of a meditation monastery said to date back two thousand years.