Yapahuwa

One of several capitals in the 13^th century this citadel was built by King Bhuvenakbahu when he moved the royal capital from Pollonnaruiwa in the face of Dravidian invasions from South India. Bringing the sacred tooth relic with him he chose this granite out crop rising out of the lowlands midway between Anuradhapura and Kurunegala,for his fortress and royal citadel. He built fortifications and moats and a temple to house the sacred tooth relic. After his death, The citadel was abandoned following an invasion by the South Indian Pandyans , who captured the sacred relic. The rock became home once again to the Buddhist bikkhus who had lived here in monasteries for centuries .The caves around the base of rock have images of the Buddha and there is a cave temple at the top .Some of the prominent features of the ruins are the ornately carved staircase winding up the rock ,the  temple of the sacred tooth relic and a stupa.