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Developing social skills of persons with disabilities IN YAPAHUWA

 #Travel involves; before the trip: planning, during the trip: enjoyment and formation of new memories and  after the trip: utilizationof obtained resources.

Therefore, with all these arguments, there is no option but to conclude that travel improves self-esteem and #social #skills in addition to having a clear and direct health benefit. Travel is the key that opens the door to what all human beings crave: happiness.

Manique Gunaratne created the opportunity to a group of persons with #disabilities to visit the #Yapahuwa Rock in January 2022. Yapahuwa was one of the ephemeral capitals of medieval Sri Lanka The citadel of Yapahuwa lying midway between Kurunagala  and Anuradhapura was built around a huge granite rock rising abruptly almost a hundred meters above the surrounding lowlands.

In 1272, King Bhuvenakabahu transferred the capital from Polonnaruwa   to Yapahuwa in the face of Dravidian invasions from South India, bringing the Sacred Tooth Relic with him. Following the death of King Bhuvenakabahu in 1284, the Pandyans of South India invaded Sri Lanka once again, and succeeded in capturing Sacred Tooth Relic. Following its capture, Yapahuwa was largely abandoned and inhabited by Buddhist monks and religious ascetics.

The rock fortress complex of Yapahuwa is situated in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is approximately between southeast of Mahawa midway Kurunegala and Anuradhapura. The original name of this Buddhist Heritage is Yapawwa, but now this is called as Yapahuwa which is a kind of distortion of its genuine etymological sense.

Yapahuwa served as the capital of Sri Lanka in the latter part of the 13th century (1273–1284). Built on a huge, 90   meter high rock boulder in the style of the Sigiriya rock fortress, Yapahuwa was a palace and military stronghold against foreign invaders.

The palace and fortress were built by King Buvanekabahu I (1272–1284) in the year 1273. Many traces of ancient battle defences can still be seen, while an ornamental stairway, is its biggest showpiece. This staircase is a long one with around 100 steps. On top of the rock are the remains of a stupa, a Bodhi tree enclosure, and a rock shelter/cave used by Buddhist monks, indicating that earlier this site was used as a Buddhist monastery, like many boulders and hills in the area. There are several caves at the base of the rock. In one of them there is a shrine with Buddha images. One cave has a Brahmi script inscription. At the southern base of the rock there is a fortification with two moats and ramparts. In this enclosure there are the remains of a number of buildings including a Buddhist shrine. There is also a Buddhist temple called Yapahuwa Rajamaha Vihara built during the Kandyan period.

The Tooth Relic was brought from Dambadeniya and kept in the Tooth Temple built for the purpose at the top of the third staircase. The relics were carried away from the temple here to South India by the Pandyas, and then recovered in 1288 by Parakkramabahu III (1287–1293), who temporarily placed them in safety at Polonnaruwa.

 

A group of seven people outdoors. Six are sitting on the bottom step of a wide stone staircase, positioned against an old, textured stone wall. One person, in the foreground left, is standing and taking a selfie, wearing a black face mask and a white top. Most of the seated group members are wearing casual clothes, a mix of pants and shirts. One person among the seated group is wearing a mask, while the rest are not. It’s a sunny day, evident by the shadows and bright lighting. The ground is dusty, with some grass to the sides of the stairs. Everyone appears relaxed and in a friendly, social setting.

Group of six adults sitting together on a stone step at the base of a wide, old staircase. The steps are part of a large stone structure, possibly ancient or historic, surrounded by a stone wall. The group is casually dressed, and one person is wearing a mask. The background includes some greenery and trees above the wall. The mood appears relaxed, as many of the people are smiling.

A woman standing on a rocky hillside, under bright sunlight. She is wearing a red top, black pants, and slippers. The background features an expansive, lush green landscape with forests and fields, as well as distant hills under a bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds. The woman appears to be smiling, enjoying the outdoor scenery. There are large rock formations to her left and some dry grass and plants on the ground nearby.

Expansive landscape view with lush green vegetation stretching out into the distance under a bright blue sky dotted with large, fluffy white clouds. There are several water bodies reflecting the sky and clusters of trees interspersed with open patches of land. The perspective appears to be from an elevated spot such as a hill or a small mountain, with some rocks and dry grass visible in the foreground. The horizon appears flat and stretches far into the distance, giving a sense of vastness and open space. The overall scene feels peaceful and natural.



 #Manique Gunaratne

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniquegunaratne/


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