Yapahuwa, last steps coming down, Sri Lanka.

Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

The two 'Gaja-singhe' statues guarding the entrance.

One of the two 'Chinese lions' seen against the sky.

The entrance stairway.

Carvings in granite, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Female dancer with musicians.

Acrobats with dancers.

Dancers.

Female dancer with cymbal player and drummer.

The female dancers were shown with large breasts, wide hips and narrow waists. These have been the ideals of a female form for millenia in the South Asian region. This form is described in the literary traditions here.

Coming down, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

The top of the rock, view from below.

A stone retaining wall.

Carvings on a granite pillar.

Coming down from the top, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Flowers growing wild near the top of the rock.

Iron guard rails on the rock.

Cactus plants growing wild.

Stairway with guard rails.

A fresh breeze blowing it is a pleasure to see the surrounding countryside while climbing down.

Scenes at the top of the rock, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

A ruined Stupa and a water collection point in the rock.

The Stupa built close to the repository of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha in the 13th Century AD.

A view of the surrounding countryside from the top of the rock.

Another view.

The climb to the top, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

The climb from the second stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

The climb from the second stairway to the top of the rock has footpaths and steps. It needs a bit of effort but can be done with frequent rests. The pictures depict the early part of the climb.

Artifacts end of the second stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Carved stone pillar.

Carvings in stone.

Beginning of the foot path to the summit at the end of the second stairway..

Terrace, carved doorpost of granite and figurines on stone, second stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.,

Terrace near second stairway.

Carved door-post of granite.

Stylized female - stone carving.

Female musical instrument player.

Stone carvings on the second stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Recent excavations have shown a lot of artifacts of Chinese origin at Yapahuwa around the 13th Century AD.

The carvings in granite, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Damsels on either side of the stone stairway shows South Indian influence.

The damsel represented in the 'Tivanka' - three curves - posture.

The 'Chinese lion' guarding the stairway

'After the reign of Bhuvanekabahu I, a Pandyan warrior named Aya Chakravarti arrived and devastated the country plundering much wealth and treasure. Taking with him the Tooth and Bowl Relics from Yapahuwa, he handed them over to the Pandyan king Kulasekera. However, the next king, Parakramabahu III of Polonnaruwa went to the Pandyan capital and after friendly discussions, was able to bring the relics back and once again initiate the traditional rituals. 

There is a story by the famous traveler Marco Polo that the Chinese emperor Kublai Khan sent a messenger to King Parakramabahu III to obtain the tooth, hair and bowl relics. The King not wishing to offend the emperor was able to please him by sending two fake teeth which were in turn graciously received and established with ritual worship in China. It is not known where these fake teeth have ended up today. But wherever the real tooth traveled throughout the island of Lanka, a new palace was built to enshrine the relic and today it resides in the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and is considered to be the most sacred of all buddhist relics and Lankan shrines. '

http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Places/District/1142889

Beginning of the second stone stairway, Yapahuwa, Sri Lanka.

Climbing the second stone stairway.

Looking down the first stone stairway.