A monumental white dagoba dating from the Ruhuna kingdom, one of the largest ancient stupas in Sri Lanka and the centrepiece of Tissa town.

Overview

The Tissamaharama dagoba rises in a great white dome above the surrounding paddy fields and tanks, dominating the skyline of Tissa. One of the largest stupas ever built in Sri Lanka, it stands within a serene monastery complex of shrine rooms and a sacred bodhi tree, thronged with pilgrims especially on poya days. Its scale and antiquity recall the town's role as the ancient capital of the southern Ruhuna kingdom.

History

The stupa is traditionally attributed to King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BCE and is said to enshrine relics of the Buddha, including a sacred forehead bone and tooth relic. It was one of the great monasteries of the Ruhuna kingdom, which sheltered Sinhalese royalty and served as a launch pad for King Dutugemunu's campaign to unify the island. The stupa has been restored and enlarged several times over the centuries.