Yapahuwa (
Sinhalese language
Sinhala ( ; Sinhala: , , ), sometimes called Sinhalese ( ), is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka, who make up the largest ethnic group on the island, numbering about 16 million. It is also the first l ...
: යාපහුව) was one of the
ephemeral
Ephemerality (from the Greek word , meaning 'lasting only one day') is the concept of things being transitory, existing only briefly. Academically, the term ephemeral constitutionally describes a diverse assortment of things and experiences, fr ...
capitals of medieval
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
.
The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between
Kurunagala and
Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura (, ; , ) is a major city located in the north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central Province, Sri Lanka, North Central Province and the capital of Anuradhapura District. The city lies north of the cur ...
was built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly almost a hundred meters above the surrounding lowlands.
In 1272, King Bhuvenakabahu transferred the capital from
Polonnaruwa
Poḷonnaruwa, (; ) also referred as Pulathisipura and Vijayarajapura in History of Sri Lanka, ancient times, is the main town of Polonnaruwa District in North Central Province, Sri Lanka. The modern town of Polonnaruwa is also known as New Town, ...
to Yapahuwa in the face of Dravidian invasions from South India, bringing the
Sacred Tooth Relic with him.
Following the death of King Bhuvenakabahu in 1284, the Pandyans of South India invaded Sri Lanka once again, and succeeded in capturing Sacred Tooth Relic. Following its capture, Yapahuwa was largely abandoned and inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics.
Location and Name
The rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is situated in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately between southeast of Mahawa midway Kurunegala and Anuradhapura. The original name of this Buddhist Heritage was Yapawwa but now it is called as Yapahuwa, which is a kind of distortion of its genuine etymological sense.
History
Yapahuwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka in the latter part of the 13th century (1273–1284). Built on a huge, high rock boulder in the style of the
Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (''Lion Rock'' , , pronounced SEE-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeologic ...
rock fortress, Yapahuwa was a palace and military stronghold against foreign invaders.
The palace and fortress were built by King Buvanekabahu I (1272–1284) in the year 1273. Many traces of ancient battle defences can still be seen, while an ornamental stairway, is its biggest showpiece. This staircase is a long one with around 100 steps. On top of the rock are the remains of a stupa, a Bodhi tree enclosure, and a rock shelter/cave used by Buddhist monks, indicating that earlier this site was used as a Buddhist monastery, like many boulders and hills in the area. There are several caves at the base of the rock. In one of them there 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 Yapahuwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.
The Tooth Relic was brought from Dambadeniya and kept in the Tooth Temple built for the purpose at the top of the third staircase. The relics were carried away from the temple here to South India by the Pandyas, and then recovered in 1288 by Parakkramabahu III (1287–1293), who temporarily placed them in safety at Polonnaruwa.
Image gallery
Image:Yapahuwa Staricase 2 cdm.jpg, The Yapahuwa staircase.
Image:Yapahuwa Lion.jpg, The Yapahuwa Lion stone sculpture (appears on the former 10-rupee
Rupee (, ) is the common name for the currency, currencies of
Indian rupee, India, Mauritian rupee, Mauritius, Nepalese rupee, Nepal, Pakistani rupee, Pakistan, Seychellois rupee, Seychelles, and Sri Lankan rupee, Sri Lanka, and of former cu ...
note).
Image:Yapahuwa_Staricase_3_cdm.jpg, Carvings by the Staircase
Image:Yapahuwa_rock_top_1_cdm.jpg, Ruined Stupa on the Yapahuwa Rock
Image:Yapahuwa Staircase 1 cdm.jpg, Staircase leading to the Rock
Image:Yapahuwa_rock_top_2_cdm.jpg, View from the top
Image:Yapahuwa_temple_1_cdm.jpg, Buddha Statues in the temple (i)
Image:Yapahuwa_temple_2_cdm.jpg, Buddha Statues in the temple (ii)
Image:Yapahuwa_temple_paintings_1_cdm.jpg, Kandyan era paintings inside the temple (i)
Image:Yapahuwa_temple_paintings_2_cdm.jpg, Kandyan era paintings inside the temple (ii)
Image:Yapahuwa_temple_paintings_3_cdm.jpg, Kandyan era paintings inside the temple (iii)
See also
*
Sigiriya
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (''Lion Rock'' , , pronounced SEE-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeologic ...
*
Mahawa, Sri Lanka
References
External links
Yapahuwa Sri Lanka
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yapahuwa
Geography of Sri Lanka
Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka
Tourist attractions in North Western Province, Sri Lanka