Explore the historical Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
Located a little way off the Kurunagala-Anuradhapura road in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka, the rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is one of the best archeological sites in the country that history buffs should pay a visit. Yapahuwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka after King Bhuvenakabahu transferred from Polonnaruwa in 1272. The palace and fortress were built on a huge, 90-meter-high granite rock in the style of the Sigiriya rock fortress, but they were soon abandoned and used as a Buddhist monastery with temples and shrines. The steep ornamental staircase today is perhaps its biggest showpiece with extraordinarily beautiful pierced-stone windows. A cave temple with the impressive 13th-century frescoes and images of the Buddha can be seen at the base of the rock, while on the top, visitors will find faint traces of a stupa, a Bodhi tree shrine, and a rock cave inhibited by Buddhist monks.
