5/5 Asanga Ranasinghe A. 3 years ago on Google
The
archaeological
site
of
Yapahuwa
located
in
the
Mahawa
Divisional
Secretariat
takes
a
prominent
place
in
history.
The
Bodhivamsa
mentions
that
Yapahuwa
was
known
as
Sundara
Giri
Pavuvva
In
third
century
B.C
during
the
reign
of
King
Devanampiyatissa.
It
was
named
as
Subhavala
and
Subhagiripura
when
General
Subha
converted
it
in
to
a
fortress
for
security
reasons.
In
the
Dalada
Pujavaliya
it
is
known
as
‘Ayo
Parvata’.
Yapahuwa
abound
a
variety
of
features
of
archaeological
importance.
The
fortification
and
the
moat,
which
extend
from
west
end
of
the
Southern
part
of
the
rock
are
connected
to
the
other
side
of
the
rock
in
the
shape
of
a
horse
shoe.
There
are
no
buildings
of
any
historical
value
in
the
outer
city.
Tiles,
potsherds
and
bricks
are
strewn
everywhere
in
the
vicinity
of
the
outer
city.
The
fortress
is
4m
in
height
and
22m
in
width.
Bastions
may
have
existed
on
the
rampart
as
suggested
by
the
square
shaped
structures
on
it.
The
well
planned
citadel
consists
of
a
rampart
and
a
moat.
The
stone
slabs
are
put
in
place
on
both
sides
of
the
rampart
and
had
been
filled
with
metal.
In
the
citadel
where
the
water
is
being
collected,
two
sluices
made
of
stone
are
built
to
take
away
the
collected
water
to
the
nearby
drain.
Though
the
foundation
of
the
square
building
near
the
closest
steps
of
the
stairway
has
been
named
as
the
Assembly
Hall,
no
evidence
can
be
found
to
prove
it.
Three
flights
of
steps
have
been
connected
to
enter
the
building.
The
stone
pillars
close
to
the
walls
inside
the
building
can
be
seen
but
no
pillars
can
be
found
in
the
middle.
The
foundation
of
the
buildings
generally
known
as
the
king’s
palace
can
be
seen
as
a
square
shaped
platform.
On
the
flight
of
steps
leading
to
the
foundation
there
are
two
balustrade
stones
with
simple
carvings.
To
the
west
of
the
Assembly
Hall
there
is
a
rectangular
shaped
foundation
of
a
building
66.30m
in
length
and
6.60
m
in
breadth.
The
stone
stairway
is
very
impressive
among
the
ancient
structures
at
Yapahuwa.
Four
tiers
have
been
constructed
on
the
steep
embankment
of
the
rock
and
had
been
connected
to
the
walkway
up
to
the
Tooth
Relic
Temple.
To
enter
the
first
tier,
twenty
four
steps
have
to
be
climbed.
After
fourteen
steps
there
is
a
broad
landing.
To
get
into
the
second
tier
from
the
first
tier,
a
stairway
with
sixty
five
steps
built
on
a
steep
embankment
has
to
be
climbed.
The
railing
of
the
stairway
is
made
of
boxes
becoming
smaller
and
smaller
in
size
when
reaching
the
top.
After
getting
into
the
square
platform,
the
building
identified
as
the
Temple
of
the
Tooth,
the
doorway
and
the
beautiful
flight
of
steps
can
be
seen.
This
stairway
contains
sculptures
with
a
high
degree
of
excellence
and
gives
the
impression
that
they
had
been
painted
in
colour.
Influence
of
South
Indian
architectural
features
is
highlighted
in
these
sculptures.
Sophisticated
sculptures
on
both
sides
of
the
flight
of
steps
have
a
similarity
and
contain
figures
of
a
dwarf,
a
female
dancer
and
a
graceful
figure
of
a
female.
The
next
railing
is
a
balustrade
with
a
carving
of
the
face
of
a
Kihimbi
(a
lion
face).
On
this
balustrade
two
stylized
figures
of
a
lion
in
the
kneeling
posture
have
been
sculptured.
On
the
second
half
of
this
flight
of
steps,
figures
of
dwarfs
and
gajasimha
(a
mythical
lion)
have
been
sculptured.
The
lower
half
of
the
doorway
of
the
top
tier
has
been
decorated
with
borders
and
the
middle
section
borders
have
been
sculptured
with
a
dancing
female,
male
figures,
musicians
etc.
In
front
of
the
doorway
decorated
pillars
and
in
the
middle
of
the
entrance
a
stone
door
frame
with
various
sculptures
exist.
After
the
doorway,
the
foundation
of
the
Temple
of
the
Tooth
is
to
be
met.
Remains
of
various
foundations
of
buildings,
a
stupa,
ponds,
water
sprouts,
retaining
walls,
stone
steps
are
found
as
well.
Out
of
the
forty
caves
at
Yapahuwa
25
of
them
are
with
drip-ledges.
Inscriptions
are
found
under
the
drip-ledges
of
some
of
these
caves.
