Yapahuwa Rock Fortress: Sri Lanka’s Best Hidden Attraction

Visiting Yapahuwa Rock Fortress

Similar to the well-known Sigiriya Lion Rock, Yapahuwa is a fortress built on top of a massive rock. However, unlike the former, it’s secured with inner and outer city ramparts, allowing you to see traces of ancient battles, beautiful stone sculptures, and incredible 360-degree views across the surroundings. In fact, in medieval Sri Lanka, Yapahuwa even functioned as the country’s capital city!

A really steep stone staircase that seems never-ending leads you up the Yapahuwa Rock Fortress and is the absolute eye-catcher of the fortress. Along the way, I immediately noticed all the intricate stone carvings on the pillars, still visible after thousands of years. We thought this spot was very picturesque, with constant views of the lush green surroundings.

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On top of the staircase is an ancient doorway with two lion statues guarding the treasures. Let’s not forget that the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha was once kept at Yapahuwa!

Climbing to the Top of the Rock Fortress

At the entrance of Yapahuwa Rock Fortress, you’ll first come across a small museum. Here, you can look at a few stone sculptures and coins showing the fortress’s ancient trade connections.

Then, you’ll walk through a gate leading past the outer and inner ramparts towards the staircase. And from there, you’ll climb the detailed staircase to the top.

However, the top of the staircase is not yet the final point of the rock fortress. A 20-minute climb via a steep, tricky, but doable walking path gets you to the summit. Here, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the entire region!

Take in the views of green jungles and listen to the sound of the wind gushing along the enormous rock. Unfortunately, there is not much to see on top of the rock itself other than an ancient stupa and a bodhi tree shrine.

Note: Always keep an eye on the path when hiking up and wear proper shoes.

Is Yapahuwa Better than Lion Rock?

Despite having fewer details, we think Lion Rock’s history is better preserved, and therefore, the better choice to visit. However, Yapahuwa has few to zero international tourists, whereas Lion Rock is one of the country’s biggest draws (so it gets busy!). This means you’ll have the rock fortress almost entirely to yourself — a unique experience that not many others get in Sri Lanka.

Additionally, compared to the steep 36 USD entrance fee at Sigiriya’s Lion Rock, entrance to Yapahuwa is only 3,50 USD. Ultimately, we think both are worth a visit if you’ve got the time!

How to Get to Yapahuwa

Located in the northwest of the country, Yapahuwa lies a bit off the usual Sri Lanka travel route. It takes about 2.5 hours from Kandy by car, and about 3 hours from Colombo. Exploring Sri Lanka by car was the best experience for us as it gives you so much flexibility in your plans! We recommend renting a car plus a driver for a longer period and spending one night in the area.

Alternatively, you can take the train from Colombo to Maho Junction and hop on a tuk-tuk or bus to the site. Yapahuwa is open from 8 AM to 5 PM (museum); however, if you want to get in early, the site is still accessible.

Where to Stay

We spent the night at Yapahuwa Paradise Hotel, pretty much the only hotel in the area. Nevertheless, we thought it was an enjoyable and surprisingly good stay!