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Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya, the main temple there is very impressive. preserved well. Sorabora wewa (lake) is amazing; boat rides and walking around the bunt is simply fantastic. should've stayed the whole day and a night there to see elephants in the evening. village of the Vaddas (Adhivasi or indigenous people) in Mahiyanganaya are totally worth the trip. it is in Dabana, about 20km north of the Mahiyanganaya town. the museum there was awesome. photography was prohibited and the place was poorly lit, a bummer if you like photography and actually like to read the posters about the natives there. but otherwise it is a great attempt to showcase the history and lifestyle of the Vaddhas. the documented history depicted by the government is a bit obsolete now and proven wrong with evidence by some professors in that domain. so read it w a pinch of salt. still, the life like mannequins are totally awesome. whoever did it is a great artist. it will take you straight to that era. the real Vaddas there, are authentic and natural. you could actually meet the Uruwarigelage Vannila Aththo, the Vadda (aboriginal) chief of Sri Lanka, and can have a chat with him. it was great talking to him face to face. a very humble and learned man. their lifestyle and language is preserved and portrayed fantastically well in that village. in mahiyangana town, a new 84 foot Buddha statue is coming up and to be opened by end of 2020. it is still covered with scaffolding but still impressive. Gautama Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka is said to be in Mahiyanganaya.