The ancient rock fortress of Yapahuwa is similar to, but smaller than, Sigiriya. Dating from the 13th century, it was the capital and main stronghold of King Bhuvanekabahu I (1272 - 1284), who was resisting invasions from south India. Today a steep ornamental stairway leads up to a platform that once supported a temple which is thought to have served as a temporary repository for the holy tooth relic, now at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. Yapahuwa was called Shubha-Giri in the Srilankan chronicles, lit. ‘The Auspicious Mountain’.

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