Yapahuwa served as a short-lived capital of Sri Lanka during the late 13th century under King Bhuvanekabahu I, built on a steep, 100-meter-high granite rock outcrop similar in style to Sigiriya. The primary attraction is its ornamental stone stairway, carved with statues of lions, musicians, dancers, and ornate balustrades leading up to the ledge where the Sacred Tooth Relic was once housed. Often quieter than other cultural Triangle sites, Yapahuwa offers visitors an atmospheric climb through forest trails, ancient stone caves, and ruined palace foundations surrounded by rural countryside.
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