Yapahuwa Kingdom

 

The capital of Sri Lanka’s capital, the Soli invasions, and natural disasters, gradually migrated to the south-west. Yapahuwa is located 112 km away from Colombo in the North-Western province of Srilanka. Also, It is midway between Kurunagala and Anuradhapura. Yapahuwa, about four kilometers north-west of the Mahawa junction in the Mahawa Divisional Secretariat in the Kurunegala District Vijayabahu IV was some of the most important defenses at the time. After written sources indicate that Kalinga Maga build a fortress ruled the area.

King Bujanekabahu’s brother Buwanekabahu has come to this place after the Sinhala King Vijayabahu of Sinhalese has been using it for a long time.  It is after this that the golden age of Yapahuwa began. Buwanekabahu, the brother of King Vijayabahu IV, who was a student of Yapahuwa before his birth, became a kingdom after his brother’s death.

This rock introduced in the chronicles.  According to Sinhala Bodhiwansa Yapahuwais called  Sundara Giri Pawwa. And Also  In the Dalada Poojala, Indruduce as an “Ayobabbatha”. The earliest archaeological evidence of the area and suburbs of Yapahuwa dates back to prehistoric times. The Yapahuwa kingdom 300 feet or more above sea level. There is much archaeological evidence from the prehistoric period to the Kandyan period.

Sri Lanka History of Yapahuwa

According to the Mahavamsa, yapahuwa founded in 13rd Century AD. The design of the Yapahuwa kingdom is very much a china influence. Finally, a good example of this is Sri Lankan 10 rupee note the entrance to the Dalada Maligawa of the Yapahuwa kingdom.

Chinese coins and Chinese pottery has also been used during this period.  The good kingdom which was short-lived in Ceylon’s history collapsed and was destroyed by the 5th invasion of the latter half of the 13th century.

A large amount of archaeological remains of Yapahuwa as a capital city is available only to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and sometimes Kandy.

Senarath Paranavithana says Yapahuwa is second only to Sigiriya in terms of its importance as a stronghold.

This is a royal residence in the 13th century. It was able to preserve some interesting remains. It was built by King Buwanekabahu the First capital of 1301, today, the Royal residence, the Temple of Tooth Relic, the battle defenses are in ruins. Likewise, This is about a mile is about 20 feet in height.

There are three main gates into the fortress. in addition  Around the fortress was a moat. likewise, Within this rampart was an inner fortification: a stone wall, 12 feet in height and about 500 yards long with a moat outside it and with two gates.

In one of the caves at the base of the rock is a shrine with Buddha images. One cave has a Brahmi script inscription. At the southern base of the rock and there is a fortification with two moats and ramparts. In this enclosure, there are the remains of an also a number of buildings including a Buddhist shrine too.

There is also a Buddhist temple called Yapawwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.