Sigiriya Rock

Last updated on 27 Apr 2023Show location

Sigiriya is an ancient fortress and palace constructed by King Kasyapa between 473-495. This architectural marvel stands tall at 660 feet and is commonly referred to as the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It is regarded as one of the most famous archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 under the name "Ancient Sigiriya City of Sri Lanka." The fortress is situated in the northern Matale District, near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province.

Located in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is renowned for the ruins of its palace that sit atop a cliff that is 200 meters high. The remains of an extensive network of parks, reservoirs, and other structures surround these palace ruins. Known as the "Lion's Rock," Sigiriya is a highly popular and attractive destination. In addition to the palace ruins, it features a variety of other attractions, such as flower gardens, lakes, and caves, making it a complete representation of a kingdom. King Kashyapa constructed the ancient citadel of Sigiriya in the 5th century. The site comprises various ruins, including an upper palace located at the peak of the rock, a mid-level terrace that features the Lion Gate and frescoes on the mirror wall, and lower palaces clinging to the slopes below the rock. The palace's moats, walls, and gardens extended a few hundred meters from the rock's base, indicating that the site served as a palace and fortress. The upper palace atop the rock also features rock-cut cisterns. Sigiriya is a historical monument that holds great value in Sri Lanka. It is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World and is a complex that comprises an ancient palace and fortress. Due to its archaeological importance, it attracts thousands of tourists yearly, making it the most visited destination in Sri Lanka. One of the most prominent features of Sigiriya is its set of ancient paintings, known as the Sigiriya frescoes. Skilled artisans created these paintings during the fifth century AD.

The Sigiriya maidens, located on the Lion Rock, are some of Sri Lanka's most talked-about paintings. Around 500 beautiful ladies originally decorated the wall in a massive mural that spanned 450 feet in length and 130 in height. However, over the course of more than 1500 years, only twenty-one maidens have survived to the present day, making their survival a minor miracle. The western precinct of the site is home to the water gardens, a central section that contains three distinct gardens. The first garden is enclosed by water and is built in the style of an ancient garden known as char bagh. This garden is one of the oldest surviving examples of this form and is connected to the main precinct by four causeways, each with a gateway at its head. The second garden features two long, deep pools on either side of the path, with two shallow, sinuous streams leading to them. Circular limestone plate fountains are located here, which are still functional and are supplied with water through underground conduits. Two large islands are on either side of the second water garden, and summer palaces are built on flat surfaces. Two additional islands, similar in construction to the first, are situated north and South. The third garden is higher than the other two and contains a large octagonal pool with a raised podium in the northeast corner. The citadel's large brick and stone wall is situated on the eastern edge of this garden. Overall, these water gardens are an impressive feat of ancient engineering and provide an important glimpse into the history and culture of Sri Lanka. It has an interesting history closely related to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Being less grand and far more challenging to climb, it is often overlooked by tourists Like Sigiriya, Pidurangala was created by volcanic activity, but unlike Sigiriya, Pidurangala's upper surface is steeply sloped and is made of solid rock. Because of this, Pidurangala was not suitable for large-scale building activity. The rocky outcrops surrounding the central rock offer a glimpse of what the area around Sigiriya may have looked like before its clearing and preparation as a royal citadel. The area around Pidurangala has been inhabited by monks who lived in the caves around the site for over two and a half thousand years. However, it gained significance when King Kasyapa (477-495 AD), who built Sigiriya, relocated the monks living around Sigiriya Rock to a newly renovated and expanded temple and monastery at Pidurangala.