Yapahuwa in Sri Lanka

Yapahuwa is located 112 km away from Colombo in the North-western province of Sri Lanka midway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura.

Reaching Yaphuwa

Yapahuwa can be reached by A28 main motor road as well as by the northern Railway line. Yapahuwa is 5k east of Maho railway station.

Ruins in Yapahuwa

A royal residence in 13th century Yapahuwa was able to preserve some interesting remains. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.

Located at Kurunegala, North Western Province of Sri Lanka, Yapahuwa ancient fortress rises to a height of 90 m above the surrounding plains. Built by King Buwanekabahu the First as the capital of Sri Lanka in 1301, today, the Royal residence, the Temple of Tooth Relic, the battle defences are in ruins. While many traces of other ancient defenses are still be seen, an ornamental stairway remains it’s the main draw.

The ruined walls of Yapahuwa form a rough semicircle. The ends join the foot of the high steep-sided rocky granite outcrop. The outer fortification, an earthen rampart extends to about a mile is about 20feet in height. Over the rampart are the ruins of a brick wall that was erected for defences. Around the rampart was a moat. Around the rampart was a moat. Access to the fortress was by means of the three gates that connected to three causeways. Within this rampart was an inner fortification: a stone wall 12 feet in height and about 500 yards long with a moat outside it and with two gates.

The homes of the ordinary people would have been between the outer and inner walls while king’s palace, administrative buildings and of course the Temple of the Tooth were within the inner wall.

Stone Stairway in Yapahuwa

The Stone stairway originally comprised of three flights of stone stairs, one above the other, however the lower one has disappeared and been replaced by cement steps. The walls on either side of the stairway form pavilions in each of which is a graceful female figure. Above these sculptures are sculptures of stylized goggle-eyed spring and the in balustrades above these, the head of lions have transformed into the Elephants with their trunks extended. Beautiful rock carvings of jubilant musicians, dancers and drummers decorate the last staircase and the porch above them.

Doorway in Yapahuwa

Finally at the top of the stairway the pilgrim will reach the impressive and harmoniously conceived doorway that once led into the Temple of the Tooth. Passing through the door the pilgrim will see directly in front of him or her the foundations of the temple. The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep climb but well worth the effort. From the palace and temple a The rough path to the top of the rock is to the left. It is a steep path leads up to terrace on which there are some unidentifiable remains and a modern dagaba. The view, however, is sufficient reward for the strenuous climb.

Caves at the top of the rock in Yapahuwa

The rough path to the top of the rock is a steep climb. At the top of the hill are caves inhabited by ascetic monks for centuries before Yapahuwa became the capital of Sri Lanka.

Caves in Yapahuwa

In one of the caves at the base of rock is a shrine with Buddha images. One cave has a Brahmi script inscription.At the southern base of the rock there is a fortification with two moats and ramparts. In this enclosure there are the remains of a number of buildings including a Buddhist shrine. There is also a Buddhist temple called Yapawwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.

History of Yapahuwa

Following the decline of Polonnaruwa kingdom, the capital of Sri Lanka was shifted to Yapahuwa by King Buwanekabahu the first. The palladium of the Sinhalese Buddhist nation, the sacred tooth relic of Buddha was enshrined within the newly built temple at the Yapahuwa. However Yapahuwa too once again fell to the marauding Dravidian invaders from Southern India. After the death of Buwanekabahu the first, the Pandayan marauders invaded the island once again, pillaged the kingdom of Yapahuwa and carried the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha to the Pandayan Kingdom.

The successor to Buwanekabahu the first, King Parakkramabahu the third (1287–1293) having visited the Pandayan court in Southern India in 1288, secured the Sacred Tooth Relic, the palladium of the nation, once again, to the great relief of the Sinhalese.

New museum in Yapahuwa

New museum situated at the entrance to the rock fortress, contains a modest collection of antiquities found in and around Yapahuwa. The museum houses a collection of excavated relics found in the area. And among them is a hoard of ancient Chinese coins and artefacts that testify to a once flourishing trade between the kingdom of Yapahuwa and China.