How to visit Yapahuwa Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka (public transport). An ancient capital of medieval Sri Lanka, Yapahuwa Rock Fortress feels like something straight out of Tomb Raider, complete with crumbling ruins, jungle setting, stone lions, and monkeys galore. Yapahuwa became the capital of Sri Lanka in 1272, when it was moved from Polonnaruwa to evade invading forces from South India. The Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha used to be kept here, before it was stolen, recaptured and finally transported to Kandy. Yapahuwa was only the capital for a fairly short eleven years, before it eventually fell, the sacred relic was taken by invaders, and the city left abandoned for centuries.
Yapahuwa Rock Fortress is well off the typical tourist trail in Sri Lanka, making it a true hidden gem. However itโs significance to Sri Lankan history, as well as the incredibly cool jungle setting, makes it a must-do!
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What to See at Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
Similar to Lion Rock in Sigiriya, this is an ancient fortress built into the rock. The main attraction at Yapahuwa Rock Fortress is the towering staircase leading up several flights of stairs to the top of the hill, flanked with stone lions on both sides. You can just imagine how impressive it must have been during its heyday. There are also various examples of ancient battle defences, due to the fact that Sri Lanka was already under threat when Yapahuwa became the capital.
Hiking the Summit at Yapahuwa Rock Fortress
Once youโve climbed to the top of the ornamental staircase, you can continue along the trail behind Yapahuwa Rock Fortress. This will lead you up to a summit with beautiful panoramic views of the area. When I went I was quite literally the only person there (plus the monkeys!). The trail is not too difficult but you do need a reasonable level of fitness. I wore plastic sandals and was fine (it was a dry day) but trainers would probably be more advisable.
How to Get to Yapahuwa Rock Fortress Using Public Transport?
If youโre wondering how to visit Yapahuwa Rock Fortress without a car youโve come to the right place! I did not fancy braving Sri Lankaโs busy roads by myself, and public transport here is part of the experience of visiting this beautiful country. Yapahuwa is located in the more remote north-west of the country.
Many people will tell you that you need to hire your own vehicle to be able to reach Yapahuwa Rock Fortress, but this is not strictly true. If you would like to visit using public transport, you can take the train from Colombo to Maho Junction. This gets you within a few miles of Yapahuwa. What I recommend is booking a homestay in the area (I stayed at Walawwa Eco Lodge, which I highly recommend). If you contact your accommodation in advance, they can arrange a local tuk tuk driver to collect you from Maho station, take you to your accommodation, and also take you to and from Yapahuwa Rock Fortress.
There is also a train station at Yapahuwa itself, but at the time of writing there only seems to be two trains a day stopping at that station.
Do I Need to Pay an Entrance Fee to Visit Yapahuwa Rock Fortress?
Yes, you need to buy a ticket to enter Yapahuwa Rock Fortress. When you arrive at the entrance, youโll see a building to the right and staff sitting at a table to your left. The entrance fee when I visited in January 2025 was LKR 2000 (USD 7). There are lots of monkeys around this area too so make sure to keep your bag securely fastened!
๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ Specific Tips for Sri Lanka ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ
๐บ PickMe: Download the PickMe app before you go to Sri Lanka. This is Sri Lankaโs rideshare app (like Uber) and you can use it to get cars, scooters and tuk tuks โ definitely the easiest way to get around!
โ๏ธ AIRPORT: Most international flights to Sri Lanka will arrive in Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). This is actually closer to Negombo than Colombo itself, so I recommend booking your first nightโs accommodation in Negombo (which also has nice beaches!).
๐ถ LOCAL CURRENCY: The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Although you can pay by card in bigger hotels and businesses, most homestays and small businesses only accept cash. I recommend getting a WISE card before your trip.
๐ณ SIM CARD: I picked up a local SIM card with 50GB data at the airport and it worked absolutely fine. If you want more peace of mind you can sort an eSIM before your arrive with Airalo.
๐ TRAIN TICKETS & TIMETABLE: The trains in Sri Lanka are excellent, and definitely the best way to travel. You can check train timetables and book tickets in advance via the Sri Lanka Railways website. Tickets are available 30 days in advance. Alternatively, unlimited tickets are always available on the day for the unreserved carriages.
๐ BUSES: Travelling by bus in Sri Lanka is incredibly easy (and quite a fun experience!). Just rock up at the bus stop and someone will point you in the right direction. You pay in cash on the bus after sitting down. Note that the times/routes in Google Maps are not always accurate โ just ask locals instead!
๐ ๐ BUS, TRAIN & FERRY TICKETS: If you want to book your transportation in advance online you can do so using 12Go. Note that this will be more expensive. However it is recommended for some of the more popular routes like the Kandy -> Ella train if you want a reserved seat.
๐ VISAS: And finally, remember to check if you need a visa for Sri Lanka!
๐ Useful Travel Resources & Essentials ๐
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๐ฅ TRAVEL INSURANCE: Insure your trip with Heymondo, your trusted travel companion. They offer single-trip, annual and long-stay travel insurance. App with 24-hour medical support. (Call of the World readers get 5% off your travel insurance policy using my link)
๐บ๏ธ DAY TRIPS & CITY TOURS: Book your tours and activities with Viator. Viator partner with local guides and businesses to offer you the very best travel experiences available. Browse tours here.
๐ถ FOREIGN CURRENCY CARD: To pay by card and withdraw cash at the best rates, get a WISE card before your trip. This allows you to convert money into any other currency at the best rates and withdraw cash without hidden fees. WISE is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
๐ณ eSIM: Sort out an eSIM before your arrive with Airalo. Having an eSIM allows you to connect to local network data as soon as you arrive โ super useful for Google Maps and rideshare apps!
๐ BUS, TRAIN & FERRY TICKETS: Book your transportation in advance online using 12Go.
๐ AIRPORT PICKUPS: Ensure peace of mind by booking your airport pickup with Welcome Pickups. Highly recommended if arriving late at night in an unfamiliar location.
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