Tissa Wewa

Tissa Wewa is one of the oldest man-made reservoirs in Anuradhapura, attributed to King Devanampiyatissa in the 3rd century BC as part of the city's irrigation system. The tank spans approximately 160 hectares and sits at the southern edge of the sacred city, with the ruins of Isurumuniya Rock Temple rising from a boulder at its southern shore. Wild elephants from the surrounding forests regularly come to the reservoir's edge at dusk to drink and bathe, making the shoreline a popular spot for informal wildlife watching without a safari fee. The tank also supports painted storks, grey herons, and a variety of resident waterbirds. A gentle walk along the western bund at sunset, with views of the water and the Anuradhapura skyline including the stupa domes, takes about 45 minutes.