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

Climbing the second stone stairway.

Looking down the first stone stairway.

Yapahuwa, before the climb, Sri Lanka.

Yapahuwa was a capital built in the 13th Century AD, around a large rocky hill. It compares with Sigiriya  built around the 6th Century AD. The imitation ends there. At Sigiriya the top of the rock contained the King's palace. At Yapahuwa the top of the rock housed the sacred Tooth Relic. The ascent to reach the Tooth Relic was purposely built steep to make it difficult of access. The King's palace was built around the rock at ground level. Like Sigiriya there were rings of thick walls and moats surrounding the palace. These did not prevent the Tooth Relic being stormed and captured. The Tooth Relic was valued because its possession signified that the owner ruled the Island. Hence it was sought after by friend and foe.

Yapahuwa rock fortress, Sri Lanka.

The Yapahuwa rock around which the fortress was built.

One of the outer walls of the fortress.

The entrance to the fortress.

'Yapahuwa was one of the ephemeral capitals of medieval Sri Lanka. The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between Kurunagala and Anuradhapura was built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly almost a hundred meters above the surrounding lowlands.

In 1272, King Bhuvenakabahu transferred the capital from Polonnaruwa to Yapahuwa in the face of Dravidian invasions from South India, bringing the Sacred Tooth Relic with him. Following the death of King Bhuvenakabahu in 1284, the Pandyans of South India invaded Sri Lanka once again, and succeeded in capturing Sacred Tooth Relic. Following its capture, Yapahuwa was largely abandoned and inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics.' (Wikipedia)

Artifacts at the 'Aethagala Pansala', Kurunaegala, Sri Lanka.

A 'Moon-stone'.

Carved doorway made of granite stone.

Carved stone image of a mythical being.

Unidentified stone carving.

The old 'Budu Ge', 'Aethagala Pansala', Kurunegala, Sri Lanka.

Flowers, Rathupaswela, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.

Red 'Temple tree' flowers.

Sunflower

Flowers, Gampaha, Sri Lanka.