A dramatic medieval rock citadel crowned by an ornate ceremonial staircase, once a royal capital and home of the sacred Tooth Relic.

Overview

Yapahuwa is one of Sri Lanka's most striking and least-visited ancient monuments, a fortified granite rock rising almost 100 m above the plains. Its centrepiece is a magnificent stone staircase, steep and richly carved with lions, dancers, musicians and mythical beasts, that once led up to the palace and Tooth Relic temple. From the top of the rock a hard scramble is rewarded with sweeping views over the surrounding countryside, and a small museum near the base displays finds from the site.

History

King Bhuvanekabahu I made Yapahuwa his fortress-capital around 1273 and brought the sacred Tooth Relic here for safekeeping against South Indian invasions. In 1284 a Pandyan army from South India captured the rock and carried the relic away, after which the capital was abandoned; the site was later occupied by Buddhist monks who turned it into a monastery. Its ornamental staircase remains a celebrated example of medieval Sinhalese art with strong South Indian influences.