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Yapahuwa Citadel

Sri Lanka, Puttalam & The North West

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Yapahuwa Citadel
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One of medieval Sri Lanka’s ephemeral capital cities, the Yapahuwa citadel is built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly from the surrounding lowland countryside.

Situated in Wayamba Province, halfway between Kurunegala and Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa served as the capital city during the latter half of the 13th Century where it served as a palace for King Buvanekabahu and as military stronghold against foreign invaders from the north. Traces of ancient buildings and battle defences can be seen throughout the sight, with a tall, steep ornamental staircase leading to the Tooth Temple, where the Tooth Relic was brought from Dambadeniya in 1272 before being stolen to South India by the Pandyas in 1284.

The staircase is a great climb, though not for those with vertigo, however the views from the top of even the second staircase are astounding, reaching out for miles over the surrounding lowlands. Attached to the citadel is a lovely small temple, built during the Kandyan period.

Yapahuwa is a wonderful spot to visit from your hotel in Anuradhapura or from Palpatha or The Mudhouse. You could even visit it en route from Colombo to one of the above.

Map centered on Yapahuwa Citadel. Zoom out to view other hotels (H) and experiences (E) in the area.

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Call
  • Destinations
    • South Asia
      • Sri Lanka
      • The Maldives
      • India
      • Bhutan
    • South East Asia
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
      • Cambodia
      • Laos
      • Myanmar
      • Indonesia
      • Borneo
    • Middle East
      • Oman
  • Holidays in Sri Lanka
    • Essential Holidays
    • Family Holidays
    • Sri Lanka & Maldives Holidays
    • Luxury Holidays
    • Slow Holidays
    • Nature & Wildlife Holidays
    • Immersive Holidays
  • Guide to Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka Guide
    • Weather & When to go
    • Hotel inspiration
    • Experiences inspiration
    • Sri Lanka Travel Blog
  • Places in Sri Lanka
    • Regions of Sri Lanka
      • Overview
      • The Cultural Triangle
      • Colombo, Negombo & Around
      • Kandy and Around
      • The Hill Country
      • West Coast Beaches
      • Galle and Around
      • The South Coast
      • Puttalam & the North West
      • The East Coast
      • Jaffna & The North
    • National Parks & Sancturaries
      • Overview
      • Bundala National Park
      • Flood Plains National Park
      • Gal Oya National Park
      • Horton Plains National Park
      • Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary
      • Kumana National Park (Yala East)
      • Lahugala National Park
      • Lunugamvehera National Park
      • Maduru Oya National Park
      • Minneriya National Park
      • Somawathiya National Park
      • The Knuckles Range
      • The Sinharaja Rainforest
      • Udawalawe National Park
      • Wasgamuwa National Park
      • Wilpattu National Park
      • Yala National Park
  • About us
    • Why choose ETG?
    • Our Story
    • Meet the Team
    • Reviews
    • In the Press
    • Our Offices
    • Our Brochure
    • Travel Blog
    • Newsletter Signup
  • How it works
    • Get in touch
    • Booking with confidence
    • How much does it cost?
    • Financial protection
    • What happens if something goes wrong on my holiday?
    • Working with in-country partners
    • My Booking
    • Come and see us
  • Immersive Holidays
    • Immersive Family Holidays
    • Immersive Honeymoons
    • Ideas & Inspiration
    • Holidays by month
    • Family Holidays by Month
    • Download Free Country Guides
  • Sustainability
    • Travel Better
    • Our Counter-Carbon Pledge
    • One bottle at a time
    • Building a Sustainable Future
    • Giving Back
  • Come and see us
  • My Booking
  • Brochure
  • Travel Blog