Places of interest that are minutes away from the cottage...
Tissamaharama - 3 kms away - ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ruhuna (3rd century B.C.). The large artificial Tissa Wewa lake also dates from that time. Legend has it that the Buddha visited Tissamaharama on a visit to Sri Lanka. The legend goes that sacred tooth and forehead bone relics are enshrined in the dagoba.
Kirinda – 4 kms away – where Queen Viharamaha Devi (mother of King Dutugemunu (161 B.C.) is said to have landed after being set adrift on the sea from Kelaniya (near Colombo). A rock temple marks the site of her landing. The sea here is home to many species of fish including angel fish, rays, porpoises, gray sharks, whales and dolphins.
Bundala – 10 kms away is an internationally important wintering ground for migratory water birds. It is home to many elephants too.
Kataragama – 20 kms away – The Kiri Vehera venerated by Buddhists is believed to have been built or renovated around 1st century BC. The Maha Devale or Maha Kovil is dedicated to Skanda-Murugan known amongst the Sinhalese as Kataragamadevio. Behind the Devala is a large Bo tree that tradition holds as sprung from the sapling of the original Bo tree in Anuradhapura.
Sithulpawwa – 27 kms away. Here lies a rock temple, believed to have been built by King Kavantissa with a history of over 2200 years. It once housed 12,000 monks.
