Today we visited another great architectural site of Sri Lanka - the rock fortress of Yapahuwa. The fortress reminds me a bit of Sigiriya and of course we had to climb to the top (of the rock, not just the staircases!) Unlike the magma plug that is Sigiriya, Yapahuwa is a rocky granite outcrop. It rises almost 300 feet above the surrounding plains. Don't let the picture fool you - the second staircase is quite steep. The hike up the rest of the rock was via steep, rocky trails and the view was fantastic!
Yapahuwa was the capital of Sri Lanka in the early 13th century. It was selected for its defensibility and the king built a palace and a temple to house the famous tooth relic. The fortress had a short-lived life as the capital city - only 11 years. After it was abandoned Buddhist monks settled in and remain today.
The lion pictured above is one of a pair located at the top of the second staircase and is pictured on the Sri Lankan Ten Rupees bill. Also at the top of the staircase are the remains of the temple and ornately carved guard-stones.
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