Yapahuwa
The rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is another of the North-Western
Province’s star attractions. A citadel built on a huge rock boulder
in the style of the fifth century Sigiriya rock fortress, Yapahuwa Was
a military Stronghold against foreign invaders for many years and a
beautiful royal capital in the last quarter of the thirteenth
century. Well defended, with double ramparts and moats, Yapahuwa
holds many delights for sight-seers. These include the remains of the
king’s palace, royal audience hall and other stately structures,
shrines and baths. Surpassing and these however are the remains of
the temple of the Tooth- protecting and properly housing the Sacred
Tooth Relic of the Buddha, the symbol of kingship, was a prime royal
duty in Sri Lanka.
The majestic stairway is flanked by a pair of beautifully sculptured
guardian lions, mythical animals and guard stones. The beautifully
proportioned doorway of dressed stone was originally adorned by two
windows of delicate stone filigree and graceful sculptures of dancing
girls, animals and decorative motifs. The base of the entrance
pillars is momentum with exquisite bas-relief friezes of the dancers,
drummers and acrobats, masterpieces in stone, of incredible delicacy
and elegance. A collection of fascinating antiquities including an
exquisite stone figure of God Vishnu, on the Stone filigree windows
from the temple of the Tooth and a collection of Chinese pottery are
on view at the archeological Museum on the same site.
The Yapahuwa Rock Temple which is built into the boulder has a 13th
century bronze Buddha and some ancient wall paintings and sculptures.
Yapahuwa is easily accessible by road and rail, a distance of
approximately 45 km, from Kurunegala.
