The Tissamaharamaya Raja Maha Viraha is an ancient Buddhist Temple in Tissamaharama.It was one of the four major Buddhist monateries estabilished in Sri Lanka, After the arrival of Arhat Mahinda Thera to the country. The site of the tissamaharama Raja Maha Vihara was consecrated by Buddha himself, who spent some time in meditation there with 500 arhats, during his third visit to the island. Tissamaharama monastery had been recognized as a pre-eminent Buddhist educational center of the southern Sri Lanka from third century B.C. to the 11th century A.D. The Tissamaharama Dagoba which is situated in the premises of the monestery is one of the largest stupas Sri Lanka.