Yapahuva, Ancient City in Sri Lanka
Only 45 km north of Kurunegala, there is another ancient city – Yapahuva. In the 13th century Yapahuve, for 12 years, was the ancient capital of the Sri Lanka state. In consequence of this short, filled with dramatic stories, and its ruins Yapahuva is of considerable historical interest. King, who founded here the capital, was killed in an internecine war. The capital then moved, and the city Yapahuva fell into neglect.
To date, the ancient city were a few buildings, reminiscent of better times. One of them – the main Buddhist temple – a construction built eight centuries ago. A stone sculpture of a lion in Yapahuva depicted on the banknote at 10 rupees. The city grew up around Yapahuva once impregnable, but almost never survived to the present day castle. But even so were many traces of the ancient defenses. The best example – a decorative staircase.
The steps of this ladder is very narrow and it is possible to climb the only side that is a form of protection, because the steps can not easily climb or descend. So it gives some time for those who were at the top arms against an enemy attack. At the top of the cave temple was built for the monks. There are also remains of various buildings. Sacred Tooth was brought from Dambadeniya and maintained in a special room. It was built in the hundred meter high cliff by the decree of the king Bhaveynkabahu I. He once turned to the capital Yapahuvu Sinhala state. After that, here and brought home Lankan relic – the Buddha’s tooth.
Short period of stay in the Holy Tooth Yapahuve ended shortly after the death Bhaveynkabahu in 1284. Pandyans – South Indian troops once again invaded the island and took a sacred relic. This catastrophe has plunged into despair Sinhalese and quickly spread throughout the Buddhist world. When Parakramabahu III became king, knowing that his legitimacy in government can be questioned, as it does not have the precious relic, he personally went to the Pandyan and held talks on the return of the relics.
What he predicted and how much to pay Pandyans – remains a mystery, but Parakramabahu, to the great joy, returned to the Tooth in Sri Lanka. Further tooth was stored in a specially built temple in new capital – Kurunegala.
