Sri Lanka: A dancer on a pillar at the top of the stone staircase at Yapahuwa, an ancient rock fortress in Sri Lanka's North Western Province

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’.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia