Attraction

Tissa Wewa

Anuradhapura was the first major kingdom established in Sri Lanka. For its citizens, irrigation was an important factor that their very livelihoods depended on. As such, to face tough droughts, the Sri Lankan Kings of old constructed massive tanks to act as stable water sources. Many centuries later, these impressive tanks are still around as a testament to the engineering prowess of ancient Lanka. Among these, Tissa Wewa is one of the most famous.

Tissa Wewa was constructed by King Devanampiyatissa all the way back in the 3rd century BC. When compared with other prominent Sri Lankan reservoirs, only the Panda Wewa and the Abhaya Wewa are thought to be older than it. The Tissa Wewa is around 2 miles long and has a depth of around 25 feet.

It is believed that the Tissa wewa originally supplied water for the King’s rota botanical gardens. Over time, it became the basis for a substantial irrigational network that provided a water source for areas all around it. The reservoir itself receives water via a canal that’s connected to Jaya Ganga River while excess water is released into the nearby Malwathu Oya River.

After traversing through Anuradhapura and taking in all the wonderful sights and sounds the city has to offer, a visit to the banks of the Tissa Wewa can be the perfect way to wind down and relax. Here the atmosphere is calm and tranquil – you might even be able to spot a few rare birds flying across the water in search of food!

From Colombo
199 km
Time Duration
4 h 8 min
Entrance Ticket
No

Related Attractions