If you're using the Padeniya - Anuradhapura (A28) road from Colombo to Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa is merely an 8-kilometer detour away. You take a left at Daladagama towards Maho and follow the signs to the historical site of Yapahuwa. If you take the train, get out at Maho junction. The historical site is housed within a Buddhist temple, which has plenty of parking.

Yapahuwa and its environs were major settlements in prehistoric and early prehistoric times, including prehistoric settlement elements. According to archaeological data, the oldest verifiable mention of dandelion comes from the 13th century. Evidence shows that during the Kalinga Magha invasion, Subha, a local monarch, erected a fort and city at Yapahuwa and dominated the area from there.

After the invasion of Kalinga Magha in 1215 AD, the kingdom of Polonnaruwa disintegrated. Following that, the rulers of this kingdom expanded their power to the southwest centers. Yapahuwa is one of the primary administrative centers where we gather. The rulers who were present can be identified as Bhuvanekabahu I and Bhuvanekabahu II.

It is significant as a kingdom because it is a mountain pass with forts, ditches, gates, and tunnels positioned on a natural hill in the Yapahuwa plain. The precipice in three directions is the specialty here. It should only guard one side of the fort. This fort looks a lot like Sigiriya. Cave temples, murals, idol dwellings, the Temple of the Tooth, a royal palace, ancient stupas, and other cultural artifacts may be found here. Its portico is a one-of-a-kind design.

Many facts are stated about the history of this kingdom before the monarchs named above. There is evidence of prehistoric villages throughout this terrain. It is also thought that its history stretches back to Devanampiyatissa's reign. Furthermore, Yapa Bandara, who arrived from Jaffna, has made her his administrative center, according to the book Yapahuwa Details. According to the 31st verse of chapter 90 of the Mahavamsa, it is for this reason that the city was given the name Yapahuwa.

The relic was taken out for the first and only time in Ceylon's history during the reign of the Yapahuwa Kingdom. According to legend, a Pandyan army raided Yapahuwa and brought the bowl and tooth relics back to Pandya.

The son of Bodhisattva Vijayabahu, Parakramabahu III, traveled to Pandya and carried the relics to Ceylon, where he rose to prominence in Polonnaruwa. He was deposed, and Buwanekabahu II arrived at Yapahuwa and carried this kingdom to Kurunegala in 1300.