sigiriya essay english grade 7

100 Words Essay On I Went On A Trip To Sigiriya In English

My trip to Sigiriya was nothing short of a magical one!

Also referred to as Sinhagiri, Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress. This famous world heritage spot is, in fact, the ruins of a palace atop a massive 200-meter-high rock, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures. The rock, interestingly, is a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano.

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The 'Lion Fortress' of Sri Lanka was swallowed by the jungle

Built in the fifth century, Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya fortress attracted the attention of British archaeologists in the 1800s, who were amazed by its leonine rock art and beautiful frescoes.

Perched on a slab of rock that juts dramatically over the forests of central Sri Lanka , Sigiriya is as imposing a sight now as it must have been when it was first built by a fierce king in the fifth century A.D. Meaning “lion’s rock,” Sigiriya (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982) is accessed by way of passageways cut into the rock face between a monumental pair of lion paws.

The fortress was later swallowed by the forest, and only familiar to local villagers. Outsiders used knowledge of its past, preserved in Buddhist texts, to search for the ancient site. British historians rediscovered its astonishing buildings and frescoes in the 19th century.

Kingdom to colony

Sigiriya was built by the fifth-century king Kashyapa I, who ruled the native Sinhalese dynasty, the Moriya. The imposing fortress was the capital of the Sinhalese kingdom until Kashyapa was defeated in A.D. 495. (Watch: An ancient palatial fortress overlooks this barren desert in Israel .)

After Kashyapa, dynasties rose and fell, their fortunes shaped by internal power struggles and conflicts between native Sinhalese and outside invaders from India .

The Lion People

the remains of the monumental Lion Paws Gate at Sigiriya

The Mahavamsa, a fifth-century Sri Lankan epic, tells how the Indian prince Vijaya was the grandson of a lion. He traveled to the island of Sri Lanka and married Princess Kuveni. From their union was born the Sinhalese race ( sinhala means “of lions”). In the Sinhalese tradition, the lion is the mythical ancestor of kings and a symbol of royal authority. The photograph shows what remains of the monumental Lion Paws Gate at Sigiriya.

Various cities held the status of capital after Sigiriya, such as Polonnaruwa. By the 12th century, however, overall control of Sri Lanka progressively weakened. Sinhalese power retreated to the southwest of the island, abandoning the Rajarata region, and the former administrative centers, including Sigiriya, started to fall into disuse.

Sri Lanka’s position in the Indian Ocean made it vulnerable to Europeans looking to expand their control in the region. By the mid-1500s the Portuguese had thoroughly exploited dynastic tensions in Sri Lanka’s ruling elite and controlled much of the island.

A century later the Dutch had replaced the Portuguese as colonial masters, and they were in turn displaced by the British in the late 1700s. By 1815 the Kingdom of Kandy, the last independent, native state on the island, became part of the British Empire.

Knowledge is power

British imperial rule brought civil servant George Turnour to the island. An aristocrat, scholar, and passionate historian, Turnour worked with a Buddhist monk to translate an ancient fifth-century chronicle, the Mahavamsa, from the Sri Lankan Pali language into English. Based on this and other texts, he identified two ancient capitals: Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Turnour also studied a later chronicle of Sri Lankan history, the Culavamsa, which told the story of King Kashyapa. In the late fifth century, this Sinhalese prince killed his father, King Dhatusena, and seized the throne, usurping his brother, who fled to India. Fearing reprisals, he built the fortress Sigiriya—but in vain: His brother returned, defeating Kashyapa, and Sigiriya lost its brief status as capital.

the 40-foot-high Avukana Buddha in Sri Lanka

In 1827 a Scottish officer, Jonathan Forbes, became friends with Turnour, and on hearing the story of Kashyapa and his palace, decided to look for it. In 1831 he set off to where locals told him he would find the remains of an ancient city.

His memoir, Eleven Years in Ceylon, describes “the rock of Sirigi [sic], . . . frowning defiance over the scanty fields and the far-extending forest of the surrounding plain.” As he approached, he could see platforms and galleries carved into the rock. Two of his party managed to scramble some way up but dislodged rocks, “which crashed among the boughs of the trees at a great depth below.”

Unsure as to whether he had found the Sigiriya mentioned in the Buddhist texts, Forbes abandoned the expedition. Revisiting a few years later, he traced the moat that surrounds the gardens at the foot of the rock but did not attempt to climb the cliff face. He doubted that the name Sigiriya was related to lions, as he had seen nothing to support that etymology.

Fabulous frescoes

British mountaineers eventually reached the top in 1851, but the task of surveying the site fell to the Archaeological Commissioner of Ceylon, Harry C.P. Bell. His survey at the end of the 19th century has formed the basis of all studies since.

Bell painstakingly ascertained the layout of Kashyapa’s fantastical city as well as detailed the magnificent carving of the lion’s paws at the entrance, which Forbes had not been able to see.

In addition to the elaborate water gardens at the foot of the rock, Bell’s survey also lavished attention on the galleries on the rock face. These are decorated with exquisite wall paintings that have become some of the most prized objects in Sri Lanka’s artistic heritage. A total of 21 surviving frescoes may depict apsaras, celestial singers and dancers. (See also: 40,000-year-old cave art may be world's oldest animal drawing .)

Nearby, also on the walls of the rock face, are well over 1,000 items of graffiti, scratched by monks and pilgrims who visited the site in the eighth to the 13th centuries. These messages from the past can cause a frisson when read by visitors today. One reads: “At Sigiriya, of abundant splendor, situated on the island of [Sri Lanka] we saw, in happy mood, the rock that captivates the mind of all people who come here.”

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National Geographic - History - Sigiriya, the 'Lion Fortress' of Sri Lanka
Official Tourism Site of Sigiriya Fortress, Sri Lanka
Ancient Origins - The Ancient Rock City of Sigiriya: Fit for a King and Built by the Gods
BBC - Travel - Sigiriya: Sri Lanka's ancient water gardens
Official Site of the Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya , site in central Sri Lanka consisting of the ruins of an ancient stronghold that was built in the late 5th century ce on a remarkable monolithic rock pillar. The rock, which is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet (349 metres) above sea level and is some 600 feet (180 metres) above the surrounding plain.

The Sinhalese king Kashyapa I (reigned 477–495) built a palace in the shape of a monumental lion on the several acres of ground at the summit, intending it to be a safeguard against his enemies. However, the king was defeated in 495, and the palace fell into ruin. The site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now a popular tourist spot. Visitors begin the final ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, one of the few remaining portions of the palace that are still intact. Also notable are 21 rock paintings of apsara s (celestial singers and dancers). Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.

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Sigiriya: The Astonishing Ancient Rock Fortress of Sri Lanka

by history tools
May 27, 2024

Introduction

Rising dramatically from the jungles of central Sri Lanka, the awe-inspiring citadel of Sigiriya is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the world. This massive rock plateau, towering 660 feet above the surrounding landscape, served as the location of a royal palace and fortress built by the renegade King Kashyapa I over 1500 years ago. The grandeur of the architectural ruins, combined with the site‘s artistry, ingenious engineering, and bloody history, make Sigiriya an unforgettable glimpse into ancient Sri Lanka at the pinnacle of the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

Historical Background

Sigiriya‘s history stretches back to the 3rd century BC, when Buddhist monks established a monastery on the slopes of the rock. But the pivotal chapter began in the late 5th century AD, during the reign of King Dhatusena of Anuradhapura. The king‘s son, Kashyapa, seeking to seize power, staged a coup against his father with the help of the commander of the army, Migara. They overthrew Dhatusena in 477 AD, and according to the ancient chronicles, Kashyapa had his father cruelly executed by entombing him alive in a wall.

As the new king, Kashyapa faced a precarious political situation. The rightful heir to the throne, his brother Moggallana, had fled to India to raise an army and challenge Kashyapa‘s rule. Fearing an attack, Kashyapa abandoned the traditional capital of Anuradhapura and turned Sigiriya into his new seat of power. The cliffs of the Lion Rock offered a commanding defensive position, but transforming the summit into a livable palace was a formidable challenge that would require immense skill and resources.

Building a Palace in the Sky

Construction of Kashyapa‘s palace began in 477 AD and continued for the next seven years. The sheer scale and ambition of the project was breathtaking. The first phase involved creating a complex at the base of the rock, including a pleasure garden laid out on a symmetrical plan, complete with elaborate fountains, ponds, and pavilions. The garden was divided into water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, and terraced gardens.

Subsequent phases turned to fortifying the rock itself and engineering a path to the summit. A series of staircases and galleries were carved into the sheer walls, including a dramatic lion-shaped gateway at the final ascent, giving Sigiriya its name "Lion Rock." The limestone staircase led through the open mouth of a colossal brick and plaster lion, an awe-inspiring demonstration of Kashyapa‘s power.

At the flat summit of the rock, Kashyapa built his central palace, an area spanning nearly 1.6 hectares (4 acres). While only the foundations remain today, the layout suggests it featured an audience hall, king‘s residence, and various other structures arranged around courtyards and gardens. The buildings made innovative use of the natural topography, with boulder slab foundations and curved walls conforming to the contours of the rock. The palace was further surrounded by a 9.5 meter (31 ft) high wall, giving it the character of a sky citadel.

Engineering Marvels

Establishing a complex on top of Sigiriya required ingenious engineering to overcome the challenges of limited space and access to water. Kashyapa‘s builders constructed a sophisticated hydraulic system unrivaled in the ancient world to supply the palace and gardens with water. A series of large cisterns and pools were cut directly into the rock surface to collect and store rainwater, with one tank alone having a capacity of over 68,000 liters.

The water was then distributed by an intricate network of underground channels, surface conduits, and terra-cotta pipes, some featuring animal-shaped spouts. This plumbing powered numerous ponds, fountains, and even flush toilets—an astonishing luxury for the 5th century. Archaeologists have pieced together this system from the ruins and determined it could have supported over 1000 residents even during dry seasons.

The rock fortifications were equally impressive. The upper palace was accessed by just a single entrance, heavily guarded and flanked by stone sentry boxes. The sheer cliffs themselves provided formidable natural defenses, enhanced by two moats and ramparts encircling the base. The western face of the rock was covered with a gleaming coat of lime plaster, earning it the name "Mirror Wall." Floodlights were placed around the base to prevent sneak attacks at night, making Sigiriya virtually impregnable.

An Ancient Artistic Marvel

In addition to being a military and engineering masterpiece, Sigiriya is renowned for its exquisite frescoes painted on the western face of the rock. These murals mainly depict beautiful female figures, likely queens, princesses, or celestial nymphs associated with Kashyapa‘s court. The figures are portrayed in a graceful style with sinuous lines, showing influences of Indian artistic traditions.

The frescoes were painted in a fresco-secco technique using pigments on a lime plaster base. Originally they would have covered a much larger 140-meter-long (460 ft) gallery, but only 21 figures in varying states of preservation survive today. Nevertheless, they provide a captivating glimpse into the refined court art of the Anuradhapura period at its zenith.

Equally intriguing are the 685 verses of ancient Sinhala poetry etched into the Mirror Wall between the 6th-14th centuries by visitors to Sigiriya. Many record the impressions of guests to the palace, exclaiming wonder at the frescoes and gardens. Others are more personal, describing the adventures and desires of travelers. As the oldest examples of Sinhalese poetry, these verses offer priceless insights into medieval Sri Lankan society and creative expression.

The Fall of Kashyapa

Despite the military strength of Sigiriya, Kashyapa‘s reign met a violent end in 495 AD when his brother Moggallana returned from India with an army to reclaim the throne. The chronicles describe a great battle between the rivals in the plains surrounding the rock, with Moggallana‘s forces ultimately prevailing. Facing capture, Kashyapa took his own life on the battlefield by falling on his sword. Moggallana became the new king and returned the capital to Anuradhapura, while Sigiriya was handed over to Buddhist monks to again serve as a monastery.

Legacy and Rediscovery

In the following centuries, Sigiriya remained an important religious center, but it gradually declined and was abandoned by the 14th century. The great palace in the sky was swallowed by the jungle and faded into legend until British archaeologists began excavations in the late 19th century. The rediscovery ignited imaginations around the world, with Sigiriya hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" for its majestic scale and haunting beauty.

Since then, extensive archaeological research has pieced together a clearer picture of Sigiriya‘s construction and history. Teams have excavated the surrounding gardens and found the ruins of a sprawling city laid out on a rectangular grid plan, one of the oldest examples of planned urban design in Asia. Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and has become the most visited historic site in Sri Lanka.

Visiting Sigiriya Today

For travelers to Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is an unmissable attraction that offers an unforgettable encounter with the island‘s ancient heritage. The site is located in the Central Province, about 100 miles northeast of Colombo and can be reached by car or train and bus via Dambulla.

Exploring the site involves climbing a series of staircases to reach the summit, an ascent of over 1200 steps. The hike is strenuous but immensely rewarding, taking visitors past the water gardens, boulder gardens, and frescoes en route to the sky palace. At the top, the ruins and surrounding views are spectacular, particularly at sunrise and sunset.

Sigiriya stands today as one of the most astonishing accomplishments of ancient Sri Lankan civilization, a masterful blend of artistry, architecture, and engineering that pushed the boundaries of what was possible 1500 years ago. It endures as a timeless monument to the heights of human achievement and the turbulent drama of Sri Lanka‘s medieval history.

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Sigiriya: Sri Lanka's ancient water gardens

A complex masterpiece of irrigation engineering design, Sigiriya's artfully designed water gardens required structural planning way ahead of its time.

Orange sand particles twinkled in the sun as a lone motorbike kicked up dust in its wake. It was 09:30 on a bright Monday morning and the temperature was already creeping past 30C. A family of toque macaque monkeys swung from verdant tree branches and rolled playfully in the hot sand in front of us. But we barely took notice; we couldn't take our eyes off the 200m-high monolith in the distance.

Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress and former royal palace, is one of Sri Lanka's most visited and best-known sights, attracting just more than one million visitors in 2019. But on this sunny day in May 2021, my partner and I were the only two people there.

Dating back to 477 AD, Sigiriya is considered one of South Asia's best-preserved examples of urban planning and one of its most important archaeological sites. The elaborate palace and its towering construction on top of the rock, as well as its risqué artwork, resulted in its 1982 listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site . However, its ingenious garden and water systems at the foot of the rock are what make it a national treasure.

The gardens at Sigiriya are not only the best-preserved water gardens in South Asia but some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Important guests in the 5th Century would have walked a path with the impressively designed water gardens on either side, serving as a grand entrance to the more than 1,200 steps leading up to the palace.

In his essay Sigiriya: City, Palace and Royal Gardens , Senake Bandaranayake, founding director of archaeology at Sigiriya, explained that the site is a brilliant combination of deliberate symmetry and asymmetry playing on both natural and geometric forms. "The gardens at Sigiriya consist of three distinct but interlinked sections: the symmetrical or geometrically planned water gardens; the asymmetrical or organic cave and boulder garden; the stepped or terraced garden circling the rock, the (miniature) water garden and the palace gardens on the summit of the rock," he wrote.

Boy_Anupong/Getty Images The 5th-Century palace was built to resemble a lion, with the paws flanking the main entrance (Credit: Boy_Anupong/Getty Images)

Within the gardens were artfully designed pools, fountains, streams and platforms that once held pavilions and performers. "For comparison, it would have looked similar to a modern luxury resort with beautiful gardens and swimming pools," said Sumedha Chandradasa, a tour guide lecturer in Sri Lanka for more than 24 years.

Surprisingly, the detailed design of these gardens is not what's most impressive; rather it's how they work. These water systems are considered an engineering marvel due to the use of hydraulic power, underground tunnel systems and gravitational force that creates a visually spectacular system of pools and fountains still functioning almost 1,500 years later.

Sigiriya: The Lion Rock of Sri Lanka

Deep in the middle of Sri Lanka, a massive column of rock juts out from the green tropical forest. It reaches 660 feet tall and features frescoes, graffiti, and landscaped gardens. The rock is known as Sigiriya ( see-gee-REE-yah ) and holds a special place in the island’s cultural history.

It was established as the stronghold of a rogue king over 1,500 years ago, and today the Sigiriya complex stands as one of the earliest preserved examples of ancient urban planning. Ultimately the rock was unable to save its king, but it succeeded in preserving ancient Sinhalese culture.

It is known as “ the Pearl of the Indian Ocean ,” a tribute to the island’s natural beauty, people – even its shape.

Located in the Matale District of the Central Province ( map ), the column of rock is somewhat central to the country. Historians believe the region has been inhabited since the 3rd century BCE, making the site one of historical and archaeological significance to Sri Lanka.

The rock is known as Sīhāgiri , meaning “Lion Rock,” a nod to the giant animal carved from stone which greeted visitors at the entrance.

The site was a temporary capital from 477-495 CE when Sri Lanka was under the rule of King Kashyapa.

Kashyapa’s Reign

In 476 CE, King Dhatusena ruled over Sri Lanka. One of his illegitimate sons, Kashyapa, wanted the throne – but knew his full-blood brother Moggallana was next in line. Determined to stake his claim, Kashyapa schemed with the commander of the army to overthrow Dhatusena.

Lore says Kashyapa showed little mercy on his father, walling him up while still alive. But the message was clear, and it sent Moggallana fleeing to Southern India to escape a similar fate. With his dad and brother out of the picture, Kashyapa crowned himself king in 477 CE.

One of his first orders of business was to relocate the royal seat to Sigiriya from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura. It was ambitious and probably somewhat rooted in fear; King Kashyapa had killed the king and driven away the rightful heir to the throne.

In the interest of self-preservation, King Kashyapa immediately began work on his stone fortress.

Sigiriya Rock (courtesy Justin Anderson)

Sigiriya: The Lion Rock

Its elevated position was an advantage to the defensive stronghold, offering fantastic 360-degree views. Plans to build a city quickly unfolded and after several years, the Sigiriya complex had become a bustling center for the new King.

The igneous rock earned its name from the enormous lion which greeted visitors halfway up the rock on a small plateau. A gateway to the Sigiriya, a lion carved from rock served to both welcome visitors and warn enemies.

The site plan consisted of a citadel, an upper palace on the top of the rock, and lower palaces at ground level.

The King also constructed lavish gardens throughout, and for protection a moat with ramparts surrounded the complex.

The top of the rock was home to a beautiful landscaped gardens and the upper palace, today the oldest surviving palace in Sri Lanka. The upper gardens employed an advanced irrigation system which utilized surface and subsurface hydraulic systems.

Cisterns cut from the rock still function today.

Sigiriya Culture

Over time the Mirror Wall became a graffiti board, covered in verses scribbled by visitors. Known as “ Sigiri Graffiti ,” some of the messages date to the 8th century CE.

One inscription believed to be over 500 years old read:

“බුදල්මි. සියොවැ ආමි. සිගිරි බැලිමි. බැලු බැලු බොහො දනා ගී ලීලුයෙන් නොලීමි.”

Rough translation: “ I am Budal. I came alone to see Sigiriya. Since all the others wrote poems, I did not! ”

The message isn’t revelatory but if offers an insight to centuries-old human thought. Budal’s comment is not far off from what a visitor might offer today.

The tradition of additions by visitors forced officials to “close” the wall to new inscribing. To preserve the existing ancient graffiti, the wall is being treated to an on-going protective restoration.

A pocket in the Cobra Hood Cave is home to beautiful paintings of Sinhalese maidens performing various tasks. The maidens have escaped exposure to the elements for more than a millennium in the rock’s natural cavity.

The paintings are believed to be over 1,500 years old, and while the true significance is unknown, there are multiple theories. Some believe the maidens display religious rituals while others believe the images immortalize the many wives of the king.

The Maidens of Cobra Hood Cave at Sigiriya

The Gardens

The water gardens occupied the western part of the Sigiriya complex and were further divided into three sub-sections. The first was a large plot surrounded by water connected to the main complex via four channels.

The second consisted of a path flanked by two long, narrow pools supplied water by nearby streams. Circular limestone fountains were fed by an underground aqueduct system. Built to last, the Sinhalese fountains still produce terrific displays today – especially during the rainy season.

Just east of the second lies the third water garden, easily identifiable by the octagonal pool with a citadel on the northeastern corner.

Visitors to Sigiriya pass through the winding paths of the boulder gardens en route to the rock-top palace. Located just west of Sigiriya and geographically separating the rock from the western water gardens, the boulder gardens had decorative pavilions constructed on each rock.

As impressive as the water and boulder gardens were, the terraced gardens was arguably the most impressive. At the base of the Sigiriya the gentle natural incline was terraced and planted.

A limestone staircase divides the terraced gardens and guides visitors to a covered path which eventually leads to the main lion gate.

Symmetrical design was a staple of the gardens, which were connected to the outer moats on the west and the man-made lake (“ Sigiriya Tank ”) to the southeast. Additionally, an intricate underground conduit network interlinked the various pools and connected them to the lake.

Today the landscaped gardens of Sigiriya are the oldest surviving in Asia and among the oldest in the world.

The Rock Palace

Nearly a miniature city in its own right, it consists of a palace, fortified rock fortress, an organized system of cisterns, and various rock carvings and sculptures.

A massive rock wall protects Sigiriya from the east, although details are forthcoming as additional excavation of the eastern quarter is on-going and not yet complete.

Fall of The King

During the battle, Kashyapa’s elephant balked at an obstruction and turned aside. The king’s troops mistook the movement as a retreat. The troops scattered and chaos ensued.

One version of Kashyapa’s demise is as flamboyant as the King himself: With no troops left for support and death imminent, Kashyapa drew his dagger, slashed his own throat, and sheathed the blade before collapsing dead.

After the battle King Moggallana moved the capital back to its historic seat in Anuradhapura.

After Kashyapa

The gardens and palace at Sigiriya were abandoned, but later assumed by a Buddhist monastery which would occupy the land until the 14th century.

There are no records of the activity at Sigiriya between the 14th and 16th centuries, but by the 17th century it was used as an outpost for the Kingdom of Kandy independent monarchy.

In the 1890s archaeologist H.C.P. Bell spent some time at Sigiriya, overseeing a small dig and research operation.

[Jump to vintage Sigiriya picture gallery]

It would be another twenty years until the natural rock formation would return to the public eye; British explorer John Still’s visit to Sigiriya in 1907 sparked international discussion and renewed interest in the Sri Lanka treasure.

Full-scale archaeological work would not begin until 1982, when government-funded Cultural Triangle Project focused its attention on the ancient city. It was during this time historians learned of the Lion’s presence at the gate to Sigiriya, its head having collapsed long ago.

Today the complex stands as one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning. The gardens are the oldest surviving in Asia. Sigiriya is the most-visited historic site in Sri Lanka and is one of only 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.

Sri Lanka proudly bills the ancient city as “ the Eighth Wonder of the World ,” and considering the advanced irrigation systems still bring water to the landscaped gardens over 1,500 years later, it has the résumé to be in the conversation.

Many of the details we have about Sigiriya are educated estimations based on results from archaeological digs, rough translations, known historic events, and sometimes simply lore. For example, we don’t know for certain whether Kashyapa began construction on Sigiriya or if he merely completed his father’s work.

We do know Kashyapa overthrew Dhatusena, finished building and later occupied Sigiriya, and ultimately perished during battle at the site.

King Kashyapa was a very small part of history in Sri Lanka, but the permanence of his rock palace is a testament to the brilliance of early Sinhalese engineering and design. While the Dark Ages plunged Europe into a dearth of culture, Sri Lanka was flourishing.

If there is a lesson we can learn from Kashyapa’s story, perhaps it is that no amount of fortification can defend against unlawful claims to the throne.

Activities, Pop Culture, & Tourism

• Visitors can reach Sigiriya by catching a bus in Dambulla , the closest city about 15.5 miles (25km) away. Bus service runs daily and every 30 minutes, between 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Those with deeper pockets can enjoy tuk-tuk service from Dambulla, but at a price premium between 20-25 times higher than the bus fare.

• Visitors to Sigiriya will want to have good fitness. The citadel at the summit is an ascent of about 750 steps, most visitors are able to ascend and descend in about 2-3 hours. Be sure to bring bottled water as it is hot and beverages are not sold inside the park. Unofficial guides hover around the entrance and offer to give tours for a small fee.

• The museum at Sigiriya displays photographs of the excavation, reproductions of the frescoes, and translations of the Mirror Walls’ graffiti. Original artifacts and tools excavated from the site are also on display. The museum’s admission is included in the park’s ticket price; it is located just outside of the main gate. Admission is half-price for guests from India and Pakistan.

The Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya (pictured at right) is the modern white temple which serves as the entrance; if one continues up the rock, a terrace just below the summit is home to the Royal Cave Temple and a Buddha statue. For the novice visitors, unofficial guides well-versed in Sinhalese history will be happy to lead guests to the summit while giving a history lesson. For this they charge a small fee.

• Beware the wild elephants! They are known to roam the area – especially at night – and they are usually not very friendly. Fatal accidents involving elephants are not uncommon in the area.

• Duran Duran to use the plateau of the rock during filming of “ Save a Prayer .” (Le Bon and Rhodes were reportedly dropped off from a helicopter for the shoot)

Sigiriya early expedition photographs

(late 1800s-early 1900s)

(courtesy imagesofceylon.com)

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Historical Places

Sigiriya Rock Fortress – An introduction to the ancient wonder

Located in the Matale District of Central Province, Sigiriya Rock Fortress owns a striking geological profile and famous as an astonishing feat of ancient technology and town planning. It is rock plateau rises to a height of about 200 meters above the surrounding plain or 360 meters above the mean sea level. This ancient wonder of Sri Lanka was designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1982, due to its universal value expressed through ancient architecture, historical value, art, town planning, hydraulic technology, and also cultural landscape features. Since the 19 th Century, with the interest of antiquarians, this heritage came to light revealing its world-renowned features. The archaeological investigation, restoration, and conservation work by the Department of Archaeology and Central Cultural Fund contributed immensely to revealing this prodigy of Sri Lankan history to the world.

360 View of Sigiriya Rock

Sigirya – Historical value

According to the literary sources, Sigiriya royal palace complex possess a long way of historical background extended back to 5th Century AC which has been built by King Kasyapa. However, based on the archaeological evidence, and according to the research done by numerous scholars, it appears that the vicinity has existed over several phases through the prehistoric period and historic period.

The first inhabitants of the Sigiriya region were the Mesolithic humans who belonged to prehistoric times of Sri Lanka as revealed from the excavation and investigations done in nearby caves in proximity to the Sigiriya summit and the open-air sites around it. Archaeologists have unearthed several archaeological remains to prove the aforesaid information including stone tools, bone tools, and also faunal and floral remains.

During the 3rd Century BC, the historical period of Sigiriya commenced with the habitation of Buddhist monks, transforming the site into a monastic settlement as indicated by rock caves with drip ledges and the inscriptions carved on the rock surfaces dating back to 3rd â€“ 1st centuries. The inscriptions record the granting of the caves in the premises to Buddhist monks in order to use it as their residences.

The modification of Sigirya as a fortified city under the rule of King KasyapaÂ (477-495 AC) stated the golden landmark in the history of Sigiriya along with architectural buildings, paintings, hydraulic engineering, and so on. According to the chronicles, the building up of Sigiriya as a palace complex related to the political history of the country during the latter half of the 5th Century AC. Kasypa was one of the two sons of King Datusena who reigned the country during the Anuradhapura period. While Kasypa was the son of a non-royal consort, Mugalan is the other son of Datusena who was born of the queen and was thus the rightful heir to the throne. Along with the support of army commander, Migara prince Kasyapa seized the kingship by murdering his own father and Mugalan fed to India to seek help to fight against his brother. However, with the fear of returning Mugalan with an Indian army, Kasyapa could not rule the country from the capital of Anuradhapura. So, he chose his capital on a huge rock surrounded with thick vegetation to be protected from future attacks and this place was ultimately known as Sigiriya. As the Culavamsa mentions King Kasyapa ruled the country for almost 18 years with wealth and comfort and also with tight security around the summit. â€œHe collected treasures and kept them there well protected and for the riches kept by him, he set guards at different places. Then he built there a fine palace, worthy to behold, like another Alakamanda and dwelt there like Kuvera (Geiger, 1928, 39:3â€“6, pp. 42â€“43). As the researchers state Kasypan period can be considered as the golden era of Sigiriya which turned it into a great eye-catching wonder in the whole world. After the defeat of Kasypa by Mugalan with the help of the Indian army, the Sigiri complex was again inhabited by the Buddhist monks as Mugalan reigned his ruling period from the capital of Anuradhapura. During the post Kasypan period which lasted until the 13th Century the royal constructions were altered by Buddhist monks to suit their lifestyle but no harms came to the aesthetic grandeur of the summit and the gardens.

Learn more about the re-Discovery of Sigiriya .

Architectural value

The royal palace complex on the rock summit which is believed to be the royal residence of King Kasyapa expresses the architectural value of Sigiriya to a greater extend. Although today we can only see the ruins of these buildings, they clearly manifest the grandeur of the architecture during the historical times. The magnificent palace complex on the summit of Sigiriya Rock is the center of the Sigiriya complex which is built 200 meters above the surrounding plain. The buildings of the palace have been constructed on a stepped terrain of about one and a half hectares. It is considered the earliest and best-preserved palace complex in Sri Lanka. It is assumed that the entire summit was surrounded by a brick wall built to the very edge of the rock, the footings of which are still clearly visible today. The palace garden consists of small ponds and terraces found on the eastern half of the summit meaning the outer palace area and especially on the sloping terrain to the south.

The main entrance to the rock summit is another structure that presents out the architectural value of this premise. The monumental lion paws of Sigiriya are the very reason that the rock summit got the name â€˜ Sinha-Giriâ€™ Â meaning Lion rock which became Sigiriya later on. At the northern end of the rock, a staircase has been built to climb up the summit through this pair of lion paws and it is truly a sight to behold. Although today one can only see this remaining lion paws it is assumed that there had been a gigantic brick lion on this place and the staircase emerged between the lionâ€™s paws and runs into its mouth.

Moreover, the summer palaces built within the pleasure gardens also speaks about the architectural skills of the Sigiriya creators. Adjacent to the fountain garden area, on the flattened islands there, assumed to be summer palaces used for the leisure time of the king. It is believed that bridges built by cutting into the surface rock provided the access and the surrounding waterways have given a cooling surrounding.

Sigiriya Artistic value

Paintings of Sigiriya on the western side of the rock surface have been the focus of specific interest in both ancient and modern times which demonstrate excellent artistic features of the 5th century. Withstanding years of climatic changes some of them can still be seen in good condition. Ancient graffiti on the Mirror Wall refers to the existence of about five hundred frescoes covering a large section of the western surface of Sigiriya Rock. Today one can observe small fragments found in two slides on the rock surface, depicting about twenty-one female figures of immense beauty known as Apsaras. This line of paintings would have spread throughout the western surface of the rock, forming an awe-striking view to the ones who were the below of the rock featuring as a curtain full of colorful paintings. It is said that the reflection of these paintings could be seen on the water ponds in the water garden during the ancient period.

On the opposite side of the belt of the paintings, halfway along the western side of the rock surface, there is a pathway to climb up to the rock summit. The outer edge of the path is protected with a two-meter-high brick wall. This wall is plastered with a special lime mortar and the inner surface is polished to a reflective mirror finished in such a way that the painting on the opposite rock surface is perfectly reflected creating special scenery. This wall is known as â€˜ Katapath pauraâ€™, Â meaning mirror wall, due to this reflecting surface. Today, after all these years later, the shine on this wall can still be seen. Among thousands of visitors who visited Sigiriya from the 6th Century to 14th Century, inspired by the wonder they saw, they transferred their thoughts into poetry and wrote on the Mirror Wall which are preserved up to date. These are known as Sigiri graffiti and there are over 1800 pieces of prose, poetry, and commentary written by ancient tourists. This graffiti offers a fascinating insight into the history of Sigiriya and the evolution of language in the country over the period. A total of nearly 1500 writings have now been deciphered by scholars, especially Prof. Paranavithana.

Sigiriya – A compilation of different garden types

The Sigiriya landscape is adorned with three distinct garden types; water gardens, terraced garden, and boulder garden. They are unique in design and can be regarded as the oldest surviving large-scale garden forms in Asia. Among these water gardens consisting of main three sections are the most extensive and intricate garden type. It can be observed three principal water garden units lay along the central east-west axis and the miniature water garden. This garden layout of an interconnected set of water features reflects a highly refined landscape design sense on the part of Sigiriyaâ€™s architects. Three main garden features are numbered as â€˜Garden No.1, No.2 and No.3â€™ which are also named as â€˜Fourfold garden, fountain garden, and asymmetrical gardenâ€™ respectively for the ease of identification .

Garden No.1 is comprised of a central island surrounded by four â€˜Lâ€™ shaped ponds. It is supposed that there was a large pavilion on this island based on the found evidence. The flights of steps constructed, and a series of surrounding terraces give easy access to the water. Most of the known special water features of the Sigiriya premises are in the area identified as â€˜Fountain gardenâ€™, which is comprised of two long ponds which are located opposite to each other. Beyond these long ponds, one can notice a shallow broad expanse of water meandering right across the earth on either side of the pathway on the upper precinct of the fountain garden. These are commonly named â€˜Serpentine streamsâ€™. At the end of these two shallow streams, there are the four fountains, two on each side formed by allowing water to spurt through the holes which are symmetrically aligned, constructed in circular sandstone slabs. Garden No.3 is encompassed with a large octagonal-shaped pool and an L shaped pool. Apart from these main units, a miniature water garden with several ponds and pavilions and summer palaces built amidst the water gardens has indisputably identified as the most attractive and rather very different constituent of the water garden arena of Sigiriya complex.

Boulder garden of Sigirya displays an entirely different layout when compared to the water gardens which shows an asymmetrical layout that has been built in a different historical environment. This area consists of several rocks and boulders and in almost every rock and boulder there had been a pavilion set upon it as revealed by the marks on them. Rock shelters can be noticed underneath many of the boulders, which ancient Buddhist monks inhabited at an earlier stage and later on fashioned as a feature of the royal garden. Through these boulders, one can walk on winding narrow pathways in order to reach the terraced garden.

Sigiriya Terraced garden can be seen associating with the natural hill at the base of the Sigiriya rock, which has been constructed with a series of walls and today some of them are collapsed to mounds and some are restored. Each terrace is finely running around the rocks and some are built interacting with the natural rocks displaying cultural landscape features in the vicinity. Brick built staircases with limestone steps are laid across the terraced garden, connecting the pathways of the boulder garden and the main staircase to climb up the rock.

Sigiriya Hydraulic Features

One of the most striking features of Sigiriya water gardens is its well-planned and exceptionally engineered hydraulic system even surpasses the present-day knowledge in constructing water features. Various sizes of ponds, interconnected conduits, cisterns, and other features that constitute the water system serve different functions within the premises. Mainly, the following water features can be noticed within the vicinity.

Sigiri Wewa, the main source of water of the Sigiriya complex
A series of moats, two on the west and one on the east, fed directly from this lake.
Surface drainage waterways to control to prevent erosion of terraces and gardens during the rainy season
Ornamental watercourses and water-retaining structures as an essential aspect of the royal pleasure gardens

Cooling systems, such as a variety of water-surrounded pavilions and the generalized presence of water in parklands and courtyards.
The water control and water-retaining systems, including a series of horizontal and vertical drains cut in the rock and underground conduits made of cylindrical, terracotta pipes.

The ancient engineers who constructed the Sigiriya water system have used several important concepts to create the water features of the area in a very effective manner, making the ultimate result a wonderful one. The ancient engineers have used integrated micro and macro design concept in constructing the hydraulic network in the area, incorporating the nearby lake and interconnected water channel across the garden area. Hydraulics of the water garden area is comprised of world-renowned water features highlight the aesthetic beauty to a greater extent.

Urban Layout and planning

Sigiriya provides one of the best-preserved and most magnificent examples of urban planning in ancient Sri Lanka. Sigiriya complex consists of a royal citadel and an elaborately laid-out city, with ramparts, moats, gateways, gardens date back to the Kasyapan period. The entire palace is centered on the massive Sigiriya rock surrounded by two large city zones as an inner-city (citadel) and the outer city and also by a garden zone. The urban plan of Sigiriya city is encircled with double moat and triple ramparts extending to the east and west.

The importance of Sigiriya lies not only in the fact that it provides us with a perfectly preserved urban layout but also in the planning technology of our forefathers. Sigiriya presents a brilliant combination of symmetry and asymmetry combining geometrical plan and natural surroundings. The large rock summit of Sigiriya constitutes the backdrop of the landscape when seeing across the gardens from the west side. The rectangular area around this summit is symmetrically divided through the north-south and east-west axes which meet at the center of the palace area on the summit of the rock. The elaborate planning demonstrated in the overall Sigiriya layout shows the brilliant engineering knowledge of our forefathers. It is known by the scholars that the intricate symmetry of the royal water gardens and the moats and ramparts of the western precinct is based on an â€˜echo planâ€™. Concerning the layout of Sigiriya, Bandaranayake comments, â€œOne of the most remarkable aspects of the urban form at Sigiriya is its planning mathematics and its total design concept. In its total conception, Sigiriya represents a brilliant combination of concepts of symmetry and asymmetry, of a deliberate interlocking of a geometrical plan and natural formâ€ (Bandaranayake, 1990:41-58).

Sigiriya – An UNESCO world heritage site

On 17th December 1982, after assessing the aforementioned outstanding values in Sigiriya, the W orld Heritage Committee decided to inscribe the site a World Heritage Site under Criterion II, III, and IV of the operational Guidelines.

Criterion II – Exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on development in Architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design – Sigiriya frescoes the artistic value which extends back to a long history and Sigirii graffiti speaks of the thousands of admirers who visited the site, since the 6th century A.D. These poems are among the most ancient texts in the Sinhalese language, providing evidence for the contemporary literature.

Criterion III – Bear a unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or has disappeared – This cultural property is a unique witness to the civilization of ancient Sri Lanka during the reign of King Kasyapa.

Criterion IV – Be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history- An exceptional and significant event was the determining factor in the creation of the royal capital woven around the life of King Kasyapa.

External Link – à·ƒà·“à¶œà·’à¶»à·’à¶º à·„à· à¶‘à·„à·’ à¶»à¶¢ à¶‹à¶ºà¶± (Sigiriya and it’s Royal Garden – A Sinhala video by Prof. Senarath Dissanayake – Director-General, Department of Archaeology)

Â Reference

Amarasinghe, M, (2003), Sri Lankave Purana Raja Maliga (Ancient Royal Palaces in Sri Lanka), Ja-Ela, Samanthi Poth Prakasakayo.

Amarasinghe, M., (2005), Sigiriya: loka urumayaka wagathuga , Dayawansa Jayakody, Colombo.

Bandaranayake. S, (1987), The â€˜firstâ€™ and â€˜secondâ€™ urbanization in Sri Lanka: a review , Paper presented at the second SAREC Archaeological Congress, Kandy.

Bandaranayake. S, (1993), â€˜Amongst Asiaâ€™s Earliest Surviving Gardens: The Royal and Monastic Gardens at Sigiriya and Anuradhapuraâ€™, Historic Gardens and Sites, pp. 3-35, ICOMOS Series, Colombo, Central Cultural Fund.

Bandaranayake. S, (2005), Sigiriya , Central Cultural Fund, Colombo.

Bopearachchi, O, (2006), The pleasure gardens of Sigiriya , Godage Book Emporium, Colombo.

Cooray. N, (2012), The Sigirya Royal Gardens: Analysis of landscape architectonic composition .

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Sigiriya, The ‘Lion Rock Fortress’ Of Sri Lanka

Marvellous engineering of the eighth wonder of the world.

ILLUMINATION

Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress and a former royal palace, is one of Sri Lanka’s most visited and best-known sights, attracting just more than one million visitors each year. This national treasure, which is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the preservation of ancient technology and cultural heritage over millennia.

What Makes Sigiriya So Special?

Located in central Sri Lanka, Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, is a natural geological feature. Archaeological research has proven that Sigiriya and its area have been inhabited for more than 4,000 years.

Sigiriya has been a monastery since the third century BC, and King Kashyapa transformed it into a royal palace in the late fifth century.

Sigiriya is considered an engineering marvel due to the advanced skills required to construct the fortress from sheer rock. It was constructed upon an impressive monolithic rock pillar. The rock rises to a height of 1,144 feet (349 meters) above sea level and is roughly 590 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding plain.

Written by Dew Mal

Freelance writer, love sharing what I'm learning.

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Nestled amidst the emerald landscapes of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya rises like a sentinel of time, beckoning travelers to unravel its ancient mysteries. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, often referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World," stands as a testament to the island's rich cultural tapestry and architectural prowess.

Sigiriya is more than just a rock fortress; it's a journey through the annals of history. Ascend its weathered steps, and you'll find yourself transported to a bygone era, where a once-mighty kingdom thrived atop this colossal monolith. The summit reveals panoramic vistas that stretch across the lush plains, offering a breathtaking panorama that captivates the soul.

The allure of Sigiriya extends beyond its historical significance. Adorned with vibrant frescoes, the ancient rock walls narrate tales of celestial maidens and artistic brilliance. Wander through the meticulously landscaped gardens that surround the base, a harmonious blend of nature and human ingenuity that showcases the island's botanical diversity.

Sigiri Frescoes

Lion’s paws terrace, royal palace, mirror wall, opening hours, view in gis app.

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Real Archaeology

Anth 100 searches for the truth.

Sri Lanka’s Man-made Wonder: Sigiriya

I googled “what famous archaeological discoveries are in the country Sri Lanka” ( the country where my parents are from). What frequently popped up was this magnificent fortress called the Sigiriya. What’s fascinating about this fortress is that it is sitting right on top of a six hundred foot rock! This article will assess the story behind the story and discovery of Sigiriya with an archaeological spin to it.

Let’s rewind the clock back hundreds of years to about the fifth century AD. Meanwhile , Sri Lanka was a monarchist country; specifically, the kingdom was in the Moriya dynasty. The dynasty was in the midst of a heated turmoil as two half-brothers (Kashyapa and Moggallana) competed for the throne (Dowson 2017). Kashyapa’s mother was a concubine for the king while the mother of Moggallana was the queen; thus, Moggallana was the rightful heir to the throne. However, Kashyapa seized the crown from his father in a coup with the help of the military. Fearing for his life, Moggallana fled to South India. At the same time, Kashyapa dreaded that his half-brother might return with vengeance one day. So, he moved the capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya in 477 CE (Dowson 2017). In order to make his palace more secure, he constructed it on the top of a colossal rock. As the years went by and no sign of Moggallana, Kashyapa turned his fortress into a lavish palace. However, Kashyapa’s omen will become a reality in 495 CE as Moggallana returned (Dowson 2017). With his allies betraying him, Kashyapa committed suicide while Moggallana became king. Sigiriya was abandoned shortly after and was forgotten.

It was not until the 1800s in which archaeologists recovered the lost site and fortress. Archaeologists excavated the site in order to reconstruct the importance of Sigiriya (Dawson). Surrounding the fortress, are lavish gardens decorated with limestone and encompass pools of water like in Figure 1. Archaeologists assess that these gardens were constructed during the period when Kashyapa turned the fortress into a palace. One garden however was dated to the twelfth century which archaeologists raised the question if Sigiriya was ever abandoned at all (Dawson). A separate investigation found a huge stone paw, pictured in Figure 2, at the entrance of the rock. Archaeologists assessed that these are lion paws since Sigiriya, translated in Sinhalese, means “lion rock.” A third excavation found beautiful frescoes depicting the culture during Kashyapa’s reign. In Figure 3, this massive painting of a Buddhist woman was found on the side of the rock.

Figure 1: Bird’s-eye View of one of the gardens surrounding the rock fortress. Photo by Bernard Gagnon

Figure 2: Remains of the “Lion” guarding the entrance to Sigiriya. Photo by Atlas and Boots

Figure 3: A beautiful fresco painting of a woman during Kashyapa’s reign. Photo by Bernard Gagnon

Archaeology isn’t just about excavations. It’s about constructing the stories and meanings behind them through the knowledge of the site’s culture and history. We don’t know if Sigiriya was truly abandoned. It’s normal to not have answers to every question since archaeology is a process that’s not written in stone. However, we know that Sigiriya will be for years to come!

References Dowson, Thomas 2017 The Ancient City of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka. Archaeology Travel. August 13

Take a look at these websites to start your journey!

https://sigiriyatourism.com/

Sigiriya 2019: Best of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Tourism. TripAdvisor.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g304141-Sigiriya_Central_Province-Vacations.html

2 thoughts on “ Sri Lanka’s Man-made Wonder: Sigiriya ”

I like how you conclude this blog post. I think it is important to recognize, as you do, that archaeology is a process. The field is constantly evolving and bettering itself. You raise the question of whether Sigiriya was actually abandoned. Can you expand on this? How would this appear in the archaeological record? Why do you think it had been abandoned?

There is debate of whether Sigiriya was completely “off limits” or was the fortress used in some capacity after Kashyapa’s reign. The source that I used said that Buddhist monks inhabited the area while the source listed below said that it was completely abandoned and never found until European archaeologists arrived to discover Sigiriya. Thus, there is discrepancy in the archaeological community about this issue. In order to solve this problem with the help of the archaeological record is to date the various artifacts that could be found throughout the area of Sigiriya. Through the dates, we can figure out if there possibly were inhabitants after Kashyapa. I believe that it wasn’t abandoned because Sigiriya is so unique, beautiful, and colossal that I just simply can’t believe that it went undetected and forgotten for so long.

Extra Source 2017 Before Machu Picchu Was – There Was Sri Lanka’s Sigiriya. Ramblin’ Boy. March 6.

Sigiriya Rock: The Ancient Fortress

The magnificent rock fortress of Sigiriya is Sri Lanka's most iconic landmark. Once the palace of a Sri Lankan king, this rock fortress is a masterpiece of engineering, urban planning, irrigation, and landscaping. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was even named the 8th wonder of the world at one point. This travel guide will take you through Sigiriya's history, culture, and engineering, providing you with detailed information to make the most of your visit.

Sigiriya, the rock fortress in Sri Lanka, with the green plains of Dambulla in the background and a cloudy sky.

History of Sigiriya

Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, is an ancient fortress in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. The fortress was built in the 5th century AD by King Kashyapa, who chose this location as his new capital and fortified palace. The fortress is a massive rock formation that rises over 200 meters.

The history of Sigiriya is rich and fascinating. According to historical records, King Kashyapa built the fortress as a refuge from his brother, Prince Mugalan. Kashyapa killed his father to take the throne for himself, and his brother sought vengeance.

Despite the heavy fortifications, Prince Mugalan managed to invade the fortress, which resulted in King Kashyapa's suicide. Albeit the brutality it has seen, this magnificent structure endured the test of time. It is now known as an icon where culture, history, engineering, and art unite to showcase the wonders of civilization.

The hike to the top of Sigiriya is a must-do for anyone if he or she is capable. The hike is moderate to difficult, taking about 1-2 hours, depending on your fitness level. The path to the top is well-maintained and has steps, handrails, and platforms to help you along the way. The climb is steep in some places and can be challenging, but the views from the top are well worth the effort.

The surroundings of Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka, captured on a photo mid-way through the climb.

As you make your way up Sigiriya, you'll come across many intriguing sights that speak to the site's historical and cultural significance. One such feature is the ancient frescoes gallery, where you'll need to traverse a narrow, spiral staircase to access the vivid paintings. You'll also pass through the Lion's Gate, once guarded by a massive lion sculpture that lent the fortress its name. Today, only the lion's paws remain, but they provide a striking reminder of the grandeur and power that Sigiriya once represented.

The climb is a perfect opportunity to admire the natural beauty of the surroundings and the impressive engineering of the fortress.

A man climbing down the steps of the Lion's gate in Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka.

Exploring the Sigiriya Rock Fortress

An aerial view of Sigiriya, the rock fortress in Sri Lanka, that shows the ruins of the ancient palace on top of the rock.

Once you reach the top of the rock, you will arrive heart of the fortress. The fortress is a complex of buildings, gardens, and pools that were once the palace of King Kashyapa. Sigiriya's palace complex is a marvel to behold, as it was ingeniously designed to maximize the limited space available atop the rock. The palace features many well-preserved buildings, including the Audience Hall, the Lion Staircase, and the Mirror Wall. The palace is an architectural masterpiece and gives visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of the ancient Sinhalese royalty.

Ruins of the ancient palace in Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka, with palace walls and a water pond in sight.

The Water Gardens

The water gardens at Sigiriya are a true testament to ancient engineering and design. The intricate system of pools, fountains, and streams is absolutely stunning. However, the true marvel of these gardens lies in the engineering that makes them function. The fountains, for example, are pressure-operated, functioning without the need for modern pumps. Pipes carved through the rock bring up the water to the top. How this was actually achieved is a mystery to this day.

The Sigiriya Frescoes

One of the most fascinating features of Sigiriya is the frescoes that adorn the rock face. The frescoes are located on the western face of the rock, and they are best viewed in the morning or evening light. The frescoes are a series of paintings of women thought to be the king's wives or divine beings. The paintings showcase an advanced understanding of human anatomy and movement, with each figure gracefully poised and adorned with intricate jewelry and colorful garments. The skillful use of shading, color, and perspective in the frescoes is truly awe-inspiring and will leave you with a lasting impression of the artistic heritage of ancient Sri Lanka. They are considered some of the finest examples of ancient art in Sri Lanka.

The Mirror Wall

Sigiriya's mirror walls are another feature of the fortress. They were supposedly so well polished in ancient times that one could see his reflection. Ancient visitors wrote inscriptions and poems on these walls. The inscriptions found on the wall range from poetic verses to declarations of love, offering a unique perspective on the thoughts and emotions of those who visited Sigiriya centuries ago. As you walk along the mirror wall, take a moment to appreciate the connection between the past and the present, and imagine the countless individuals who have stood in the same spot, marveling at the splendor of Sigiriya. This graffiti provides a glimpse into the thoughts and experiences of visitors from ages ago, offering a unique perspective on the history and significance of the fortress and the Sinhala language.

There is an entrance fee to visit Sigiriya, and tickets can be purchased at the site or in advance through a travel agency.

Accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation options in the Sigiriya area. The area around Sigiriya is especially known to have several luxury hotels and resorts. But accommodations for any kind of budget, such as hostels, Airbnbs, and homestays, are available. Booking your accommodation in advance is recommended, especially during the peak tourist season.

Transportation

Sigiriya is well-connected to other parts of Sri Lanka by road. You can reach the site by your own vehicle, taxi, tuk-tuk, or bus.

Guided tours

To get the most out of your visit to Sigiriya, we advise that you hire a knowledgeable local guide. A guide can provide valuable insights into the history, culture, and engineering of the site and ensure that you don't miss any important features.

Photography

While photography is allowed in most areas of Sigiriya, certain sections may have restrictions, especially where frescoes and other delicate artworks are present. Be respectful of the site and follow any posted guidelines or instructions from your guide.

Supporting the local community

Consider supporting the local community by purchasing souvenirs, handicrafts, or food from nearby vendors. This not only provides an authentic experience but also contributes to the local economy and helps preserve the heritage of the region.

Tips and Advice

Wear comfortable shoes and clothing, as the climb to the top, can be strenuous.
Start your climb early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds.
Carry plenty of water with you.
Respect the cultural and historical significance of the site by not littering or causing damage to the fortress or its surroundings.
If you are not fit for this climb, an alternative route is available to reach the top. Or you can simply admire the view of the fortress from the bottom.
Make sure to take your camera to capture the stunning views and beautiful frescoes.
The climb is filled with many smaller sites offering a wealth of cultural and historical knowledge. So make sure to hire a guide to get an in-depth understanding.
The nearby Pidurangala Rock is a famous viewpoint and offers one of the best views of Sigiriya, so consider hiking there as well.

Nearby Attractions

Pidurangala Rock: Just a few kilometers away from Sigiriya, Pidurangala Rock is an ideal destination for those looking to escape the crowds and experience a more serene hike. The climb to the summit offers breathtaking views of Sigiriya Rock and the surrounding jungle. Pidurangala Rock also has its own historical significance, as it once served as a monastery for Buddhist monks.
Dambulla: Dambulla is a fascinating city situated in close proximity to Sigiriya, rich with historical, cultural, and religious significance. This enchanting destination is home to the iconic Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its stunning rock cave murals and intricate architecture. There are also several other wonderful attractions, such as the Rose Quartz Mountain, the Kandalama reservoir, and the Ibbankatuwa Megalithic Tombs. Find out more about the top things to do in Dambulla.
Minneriya National Park: Approximately 34 km from Sigiriya, Minneriya National Park is an excellent place to experience Sri Lanka's wildlife. The park is home to a variety of animals, including elephants, leopards, sloth bears, and many species of birds. Minneriya is best known for "The Gathering," an annual event where hundreds of elephants congregate around the park's central reservoir during the dry season. This is the largest gathering of Asian elephants in the world.
Anuradhapura: About 73 km from Sigiriya, Anuradhapura is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that displays the rich history and culture of ancient Sri Lanka. The city was the first capital of Sri Lanka and flourished for over a thousand years. Today, visitors can explore the well-preserved ruins of ancient palaces, temples, and stupas that provide a fascinating insight into the past.
Polonnaruwa: Located about 60 km from Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that features the ruins of an ancient city. Polonnaruwa was the second capital of the island and served as the royal capital from the 11th to the 13th century. The site is home to well-preserved palaces, temples, and other structures that showcase the skill and craftsmanship of the ancient Sinhalese civilization.

Sigiriya is one of the world's most iconic landmarks and, without a doubt, Sri Lanka's number one travel destination. It is revered by Sri Lankans and hailed as a national treasure. If you visit Sri Lanka, this is one place you definitely should explore. Explore the ancient architecture, history, and culture while taking some incredible photos. It will be a journey to remember!

Wonders Of Ceylon

SciWithTech | Science, Technology and Essay Blog

Sigiriya : The Story of King Kashyapa and the Ancient Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka

Apeksha rathnayaka.

Sigiriya is a small village ten miles off Dambulla in the district of Matale, Sri Lanka. Among the places in Sri Lanka that are frequently visited by both local and foreign tourists, Sigiriya is a place that is full of visitors nearly every day. They climb this huge rock of ancient fame. The place is rich with beautiful paintings on a part of its walls as well as interesting ruins which say about the great history of the place. Sigiriya is an isolated rock with a steep slope. It is about 600 feet in height. Once upon a time, the rock had a built city around it which was built by King Kashyapa, a king of Ceylon. Based on the ruins found there and tales coming from ancient times, this rock has been used as a fortress by King Kashyapa and he has ruled the Ceylon from Sigiriya for eighteen years. It's obvious that the ancient fame and the natural beauty of this place make it significant in the field of tourism. You have heard of Sigiriya. Perhaps you have visited it. But at the same time, the story of King Kashyapa is an important fact that we all need to know. So here is the story of King Kashyapa.

King Dhathusena who built the Kalawewa tank is a great king of ancient Sri Lanka. He ruled at Anuradhapura about fifteen centuries ago. The king had two sons and a daughter. Kashyapa and Moggallana were the two sons. Kashyapa was not a son born of the royal queen but a woman of low birth. This made Kashyapa has no claim to the throne of Ceylon. Moggallana, on the other hand, was born of the royal queen and was the rightful heir. King Dhathusena's daughter married the Senapathi of the king (the Commander-in-chief of the king's army). But her mother-in-law was a cruel woman and she ill-treated the king's daughter. When King Dhathusena heard of this, he flew into such a violent rage that he burnt the mother-in-law alive! Angered by this wicked deed, the Senapathi now looked out for a way of revenging himself on the king. Knowing that Kashyapa was displeased with his father because his low birth prevented him from becoming king after him, the Senapathi urged him to rebel against King Dhathusena. Then, at that point, Kashyapa promptly concurred. He could catch his father since the Senapathi upheld him. It is said to have stood King Dhathusena against a wall and covered him alive by putting him over with clay! He attempted to hold onto his sibling, Moggallana, and get rid of him since he expected that some time or another Moggallana would bid for the lofty position. However, Moggallana was excessively speedy for him. He ran away to India.

Kashyapa now placed himself on the throne and ruled at Anuradhapura. His subjects, however, were displeased with him over the foul murder of his father, and he lived in constant fear of a rebellion. He also feared that his brother would invade Ceylon at any time with an army from India. So Kashyapa moved his capital to Sigiriya where he built himself a large and beautiful palace on the top of rock. The staircase that had been built there was a wonderful staircase leading to the rock through the mouth of a huge lion carved out of stone. Based on this, the rock has been named by King Kashyapa "Sinhagiri" or "Sigiri" which means "Lion Rock". Around this, he built a moat to protect himself against enemies. On a side of the royal place, he had a large pond made. Several watch towers built on the summit of the Sigiriya rock overlooked the surrounding which provided security for the fortress.

King Kashyapa then ruled Ceylone from this rock fortress for eighteen years as the King until Moggallana came with a powerful army from India to wage war on him. Instead of waiting for Moggallana in his fortress King Kashyapa came down the rock. Then he bravely rode forth with his army to meet his brother. On the way King came across a muddy place and he turned his elephant back to go along with another way avoiding this muddy path. His men from the army, however, thought that the king was turning aside to avoid a battle. Then they fled, leaving the king all alone. After King Kashyapa killed himself by cutting his throat with his sword since the King was feeling shame to fall into his brother Moggallana's hands.

So this was end of the King Kashyapa's life story who was the owner of this amazing rock fortress with ancient fame. The ruins still found there say to the world how amazing it was in ancient times. If you visit there, you will see the ruins of the palace with a pond, and a throne remaining there. Even the paintings which are found on a wall have made this popular among the visitors. One other thing is the frescoes found on the mirror wall which are written by the visitors in the earlier period. So don't forget to visit this beautiful place when you travel to Sri Lanka.

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Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sri Lanka

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Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sri...

What is Sigiriya ?

Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress and palace built by King Kashyapa during the reign of 473 – 495 which is standing majestically 660 feet straight up. It is located in the northern Matale district near the town of Dambulla in central province of Sri Lanka. The word Sigiriya or the Sinhagiri means the Lion’s Rock where you have to climb up 1200 steps before you reach the Lion Rock Fortress on top of Sigiriya. There are several platforms that break up the steps and allow for a little break if you need it. Today Sigiriya rock fortress is one of the most famous Archeological Treasure and UNESCO named Sigiriya rock as a World Heritage in 1982 under the name “Ancient City of Sigiriya Sri Lanka”.

Architecture of Sigiriya Lion Rock

This fortified garden city of Sigiriya rock fortress is an exceptional master piece of ancient urban planning / landscape & architecture / construction technology /exceptional hydraulic engineering & management / ancient fine art with unique harmony between nature and human imagination and all these living examples proved that it was a Well Planned City & Palace in 5th Century AD. Sigiriya rock fortress is recognized as one of the best preserved surviving ancient urban sites in Asia from the 1st millennium or simply it’s a Living Museum. Sigiriya World Heritage Site is versatile and many-faceted appeal, and it is one of Sri Lanka’s ancient political capitals and Sri Lanka’s most sensational heritage site.

History of Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Historical research carried out at the site has brought to light evidence to show that the origins of Sigiriya date back to pre-historic times. Situated at the base of the Sigiriya rock of its eastern side, is a monadnock named Aligala (Elephant Rock). In a cave underneath this, excavation have revealed remains of pre-historic human settlements that existed here around 5,500 years B.P. In addition, there is evidence of human habitation in this area, as far back in history as the 9th — 10th centuries B.C.

In the 3rd century B.C. a Buddhist monastery had been established at Sigiriya rock fortress. Thirty cave-shelters with drip-ledges, which accommodate monks, have been identified at the base of the great rock so far. In eight of them, details of donations of cave shelters have been inscribed in Brahmi script. All the principal structures that are found today in Sigiriya, have been erected during the reign of King Kasyapa (A.D. 477 - 495), who chose to make Sigiriya as his seat of administration. According to the eminent archaeologist Prof: Senerath Paranavithana, Sigiriya reflects the sensuousness of a pleasure-loving king, who modeled the city on the mythical Alakamanda of god Kuvera. Indian and Roman coins and pottery belonging to the Sassanian dynasty of Persia (Iran) found in Sigiriya rock fortress as well as the affinity to Persian styles in the creation of pleasure gardens all indicate commercial and cultural relations with foreign countries during this brief period.

Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress in 7th AD

Subsequently however, in the 6th and 7th centuries A.D., Sigiriya ceased to be of political importance and once again became the abode of Buddhist monks. During this period, the cave-shelters with drip-ledges which belonged to the earlier monastic phase were further improved. Additional shrines such as stupa, image house and bodhi tree shrine were constructed. This second phase of the monastic development continued up to the 12th - 13th centuries A.D.

19th Century Sigiriya Rock

In the centuries that followed, Sigiriya was totally abandoned, until the 19th century, when it was used as n military out-post of the kings of Kandy. Later, it was a British military. officer, Jonathan Forbes in 1832, who once again brought Sigiriya out of its obscurity, back into historical focus. In 1894, under H.C.P. Bell the Archaeological Department commenced archaeological activities in Sigiriya. Nearly a century later, in 1982, the Central Cultural Fund took over the task, which it continues with great success, to date.

City Planning of Sigiriya Rock

The Lion rock Sigiriya has two fortified precincts where the western precinct encompasses 90 hectares, and the eastern precinct covers 40 hectares. The western area was the royal park area, a symmetrically-designed pleasure garden with elaborate water-retaining structures, as well as surface and subsurface hydraulic systems. It is surrounded by three ramparts and two moats, forming a rectangular area whose inner precincts measure about 700 meters from east to west and 500 meters from north to south.

On the other side of the Lion rock Sigiriya, the eastern area appears to have been a ceremonial precinct with a large central pavilion as its only permanent structure. Kasyapa and his royal family lived their lives within these walls. Moving inward from the two precincts in an ever-ascending fashion are a series of boulder gardens and then terraced gardens, leading to the entrance to the Sigiriya rock. Access to the rock is gained via a long passageway that begins on the west side of the terrace gardens, and winds northward along the Mirror Wall to the Lion Platform.

Water Garden / Landscape & Gardening of sigiriya

Among the significant features of Sigiriya, the Water Gardens are especially noteworthy. Though outwardly the Water gardens appear to be one garden system in Concept, four distinct parts are clearly discernible in its creation, and at present they are called the Water Garden Nos. 1, 2 and 3 and the Miniature Water Garden.

Lion Rock Sigiriya Graffiti

Main features of Sigiriya rock are Sigiri graffiti, Lion’s paw entrance, Boulders garden, Mirror wall, Fresco paintings of female figures, Extensive networks of landscaped garden, Water gardens, Moats, Ramparts and the remains of the palace.

The lion rock Sigiriya Graffiti were written on the surface of the Mirror Wall at Sigiriya. Scribbled on the wall are over 1800 pieces of prose, poetry and commentary written by ancient tourists. These graffiti offer a fascinating insight into the history of Sigiriya and the evolution of language in Sri Lanka over a period of 800 years. The majority of the graffiti refer to the beautiful paintings of semi-nude females. These graffiti confirm that this site was the residence of King Kashyapa who ruled from 477 to 495 AD. The texts also suggest that the females depicted in the frescoes are the ladies of the King's royal court - the ladies of the harem. The graffiti range from statements of awe, declarations of love, commentary, curses, laments, diary entries, or mere statements of visit.

Many demonstrate a very high level of literacy and a deep appreciation of art and poetry written in a Sinhala, Sanskrit and Tamil. These early scribblers have left us priceless insights into the past. Out of these paintings 685 individuals identified so far, 12 were women, over half identified themselves by name, many noted their social rank, and some even mentioned where they came from towns like Weligama and Ritigala in Sri Lanka. The majority of these visitors appear to have been from the elite of society: royalty, officials, professions, and clergy. There were also soldiers, archers, and even metalworkers. Over 1000 unique words have been identified.

Boulder Garden of Lion Rock Sigiriya

The Boulder Garden comprises sloping terrain around the central rock which is dotted with boulders of various sizes. The routes to the palace on the rock summit are laid out through the boulder garden as winding pathways that are punctuated by natural boulder arches. Among the unique features of this garden are the Cistern Rock deriving its name from a large cistern formed out of the natural boulder and large granite slabs, the ‘Audience Hall’ where a five-meter long main throne is carved out of the living rock, the ’Preaching Rock’ where a seat is carved out at the flattened edge of a fairly high boulder, and the ‘ Asana Cave’ where a seat is carved out inside a natural cave. Rock caves with drip-ledges and shrines used during the periods when Sigiriya was a Buddhist monastery are also to be seen in this area. The Terraced Garden of Sigiriya Lion Rock lies in the high ground between the Boulder Garden and the Sigiriya rock and it is fashioned into a series of roughly concentric terraces by means of stone retaining walls.

Lion Staircase

The final ascent to the royal palace atop Sigiriya rock lies through the Lion Staircase, which faces north and has two huge paws of a lion in front. These lion-paws, made of brick and covered with plaster, are the remnants of a fore part of lion figure that must have once stood there.

Palace Complex of Sigiriya Lion Rock

The Palace Complex on the top of the Sigiriya rock is around 1.5 hectares in extent. The principal monument to be seen there is the royal palace which lies towards the west. The palace garden consisting’ of a large artificial pool and. other garden features are located to the east. Below the palace, on a rock facing the east is a throne carved out of the natural rock.

Lion Rock Paintings

The fifth century A.D. paintings are indisputably the zenith of all artistic creations of Sri Lanka. These paintings, found in a depression on the western side of the rock-face, nineteen in number, are figures of exquisitely beautiful damsels, floating among clouds. According to the Sigiri graffiti (verses scratched on the Mirror Wall over the ages) however, there had been five hundred such figures painted all over the western and northern rock-faces, originally.

Many theories attempt to interpret the. identity of the beautiful women portrayed in these ancient masterpieces. According to H.C.P Bell, they are Kasyapa’s concubines, on their way to worship at the Pidurangala temple near by, bearing flowers for offering. According to the eminent scholar Ananda Cnomaraswamy, the damsels are Apsaras or goddesses. The eminent Sri Lankan archaeologist . Prof. Senerat Paranvitana offers a very original interpretation of the identity of the Sigiriya damsels, which maintains that the damsels are symbolic representations of rain-clouds and lightning. According to this interpretation, the dark- skinned maidens (Meghalatha) are symbols of rain clouds and fair golden skin once Vajji Kumari symbolized lightning. Apart from these paintings, Caves in the Boulder Garden also appear to have contained paintings. The Deraniyagala Cave, Cobra-hood Cave and Asana Cave show clear traces of paintings. In addition to this, it has been recently discovered that there had been paintings on the outer surface of the Mirror Wall. Though these paintings are all faded, one female figure, apparently floating among clouds, can be discerned. The Terracotta figurines, closely resembling tire figures in the. paintings have been discovered at Sigiriya during archeological excavation. According to Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake, who headed the major archeological projects in Sigiriya, these may be replicas of Sigiriya Damsals sold to visitors as souvenirs in the past.

How Sigiriya related to Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka ?

Cobra hood cave & ramayana yatra sri lanka .

Cobra hood cave also known as the “Parumaka Naguliya Lena”, is a natural geological formation projected as a cobra hood located within the boulder garden of Sigiriya Rock Fortress complex with plastered interior of the cave once embellished with floral and animal paintings. This is also part of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress complex (UNESCO World Heritage)

According to the Palm Leaf Book (Puskola Potha) of Ravana Watha (Ravana Story) the architect of the Sigiriya was a Danava called Maya Danava. He built up Sigiriya on the instructions given by King Visthavasa (Vishravasamuni) the father of Ravana. During that period the Sigiriya was called Alakamandava and during the period of King Kuwera it was called Cithranakuta. After the death of Ravana, Vibeeshana became the king and he shifted the kingdom to Kelaniya.

The man-made drip ledge and Brahmi inscription of the 3rd century B.C. associated with this cave indicate that the cave has served as a Buddhist monastery / dwelling for monks. The paintings on the rock ceiling has floral and stylized animal motifs with a geometric composition. The brick paved floor of the cave has been finished with lime plaster. The boulder connected with the cave has been sliced from the mother boulder and resembles the hood of a cobra. A fallen off piece of the boulder is still to be seen in front of the cave.

Therefore hhistorians believe Sigiriya to have a connection with Ramayana. It is believed that the plateau top was the site of Ravana’s majestic palace, made of solid gold and crafted by Kubera, the God of Wealth, around 50 centuries ago. One look at the site, and you would know how big an architectural feat this place must have been. As believed, one of these caves is where King Ravana imprisoned Princess Sita, after abducting her.

Skeletal discovered at Cobra Hood Cave Sigiriya The archaeological excavations conducted at the cave / rock shelter has led to the discovery of nine human skeletons. Excavations at the Sigiriya Cobra Hood Cave excavated what appears to be a Middle Historic Period burial site. The excavations yielded skeletal remains of nine individuals. This study suggests that at the time of death these individuals were young healthy adult males of 152 cm or more in height. Burial practice has been in an extended position in a west-east orientation with hands clasped in front and the face turned towards the south. No burial offerings or other ritual objects were found.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress FAQ

What is sigiriya famous for.

Sigiriya is a best-preserved ancient rock fortress and one of the archeological treasure in South Asia. It’s a masterpiece of ancient urban planning / landscape & architecture / construction technology /exceptional hydraulic engineering & management / ancient fine art with unique harmony between nature and human imagination. Thus UNESCO declared this site as a World Heritage

Who Built the Sigiriya rock?

A Sri Lankan King Kashyapa built the famous Sigiriya lion rock

How many steps are in Lion Rock Sigiriya to climb? Approximately 1,200 steps are to be climbed to the summit.

What is the height of the lion rock sigiriya? Its 660 Feet from surrounding plain

Is it hard or danger to climb lion rock Sigiriya ? Its is not danger to climb but make sure you are healthy enough to climb 1,200.

Can senior citizen climb Sigiriya lion rock fortress? Yes people do and you may take time and climb. There are places for you to take rest and climb. We suggest you to keep senior citizen in nearby restaurant and climb. Also you may let them to visit the Sigiriya museum close to the main gate.

Can I climb lion rock with my infant or kid ? Not recommended but people do climb with kids like 8 Y and above.

Opening time of Sigiriya lion rock for visitors ? 7.00 AM to 5.00 PM

Entrance fees for lion rock Sigiriya 30 USD per person / Foreign 15 USD per person only for SAARC Countries nationals (Need to submit the passport to get this discount)

What is the best time to climb Sigiriya lion rock? Ideally in the morning 8 – 10 Am or 3 – 5 PM to avoid hot sun

What is the temperature of Sigiriya lion rock ? Approximately 27 – 30 C

Can I buy Sigiriya lion rock entrance fees ticket online ? Not yet as of now but this will be online soon

What is the dress code for Sigiriya Lion rock? Sigiriya is not a temple or any religious place and you can wear your own dress.

CCF – Central Cultural Fund Sri Lanka

SLTDA – Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority

SLITHM – Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management

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Six Verses From Sigiriya With A Story To Tell

Sigiriya is best known as an ancient rock fortress built by the parricide King Kasyapa more than a thousand years ago. The palace built on its summit once had at its entrance the figure of a gigantic lion, whose colossal paws are still visible. Sigiriya takes its name from this feature, for it literally means ‘Lion Rock’. The majestic lion figure, sedent like the Sphinx, evoked age-old notions of royal authority and the descent of the Sinhalese kings from a lion.

Reconstruction of Sigiri Lion Entrance and Palace. Sirinimal Lakdusinghe Felicitation Volume (2010)

The lion sculpture survived for centuries and was well preserved until at least the 9th century when we come across a reference to the ‘Lion Lord’ in a poem of that period. The poet tells us that he saw the Si-Himiya or ‘Lion Lord’ of Sihigiri, which so impressed him that he had no desire to look at the golden-complexioned damsel on the cliff.

Our poet here was referring not to a woman of flesh, but to a painting on the rock wall, one of the numerous frescoes of beautiful women that a local Da Vinci painted a long time ago. His poem is one of over six hundred such graffiti inscribed on the Mirror Wall of Sigiriya dated to the eighth to tenth centuries. The poets drawn from all walks of life had some unusual names like Agboy, Mayli Boy, Tindi Kasub, Vajur Mihind, and Galagombu Mital, rather strange-sounding to modern ears.

Sigiri graffiti of 8th century. Sigiri Graffiti. Senarat Paranavitana (1956)

More interesting, however, is the wide range of topics they dealt with, covering all manner of things from love and jealousy to stormy weather and little-known customs of those times. They offer us a glimpse into their world which we can reconstruct from what little they left us-words inscribed on the Mirror Wall. The Wall takes its name from the belief that in the olden days, it was polished to such a high sheen that it reflected the frescoes on the rock wall opposite. The plaster, said to have been formed of crushed lime, egg white, and honey and polished with beeswax, still survives, along with the graffiti our poets left us. Here are six such verses with a story worth telling:

The Song of the Unknown Poet:

Aesimi dun hasun hasun seyin vil dut Mula la ma saenaehi pul piyuman sey bamar dut

(Like geese who have seen a lake, I listened to the message given by her. Like a bee who has seen full-blown lotuses, the bewildered heart of mine was consoled.)

This lovely couplet shows that the Sinhalese of old were great poets. They not only had a wonderful sense of rhyme and metre, but also resorted to a poetic device we call ‘play on words’ as we see in the combination of hasun (message) with hasun (geese). The poet’s eagerness to hear from his lady love is compared to the bee’s fascination for lotus blooms, whose large petals provide it an easy landing pad to drink its nectar and frolic if it wishes.

The Verses of the Wishful Voyeur:

Aedi sasa lapa se sukiduhu sad madala Pavatu va dahasak ek savasak se menehi ma

(May you remain for a thousand years, like the figure of the hare the King of the gods painted on the orb of the moon, though that to my mind be like a single day)

Sri Lankans then, as now, saw a hare on the markings of the moon and not a man’s face as Westerners did. The belief has its origins in the Sasa Jataka story recounting the Buddha’s previous birth as a hare. The Bodhisattva, it is said, was a hare and prevailed on his animal friends to offer whatever food they could to those who were in need on the day before the full moon. To test him, the god Sakra appeared in the form of a Brahman and the hare offered itself to him for food. To commemorate this astonishing act of sacrifice, Sakra daubed the image of the hare on the surface of the moon. This is one of the many stories that explain the moon rabbit in Asian cultures.

The Chant of Lover Boy Agboy:

Nil katrola maleka aevunu vaetkola mala sey Saendaegae sihi venney mahanel van ahoy ran vana hun

(Like a Luffa flower entangled in a blue Clitoria flower, the golden-complexioned one who stood with the lily-coloured one will be remembered at eventide)

Our poet is referring to the frescoes of the women on the rock, some of whom are depicted as fair-complexioned and others as dark-hued. He is comparing the fair lady standing by the side of a dark lass to a yellow Vätakoḷu (Luffa Acutangula) flower entangled in a blue Kaṭaroḷu (Clitorea Ternatea) flower. It seems he has a distinct preference for the fair damsel.

Many other Sigiri poets speak of becoming captivated by the golden-complexioned ones ( ran-vanun ) on the mountainside, who had long eyes ( dig net ) with breasts resembling young golden swans ( tana rana hasu ), and who had taken garlands of flowers in their rosy hands ( surat athi mal dam ). They are also described as heart-shattering fair damsels ( la kol helillambuyun ), and as radiant fair damsels whose lips are of the colour of the Bib creeper ( vaela bib van lavan paehaepat helillambuyun ). These suggest that the Sinhalese of medieval times generally preferred fair-complexioned women. However, preferences also depended on individual tastes. For example, a Sigiri poet named Kokeḷae Deva describes how a dark-complexioned one ( sam vanak ) had captivated his heart.

Fresco of Sigiri damsels to whom many of the verses were addressed. Image courtesy travelinsrilanka

The Boast of the Nameless Suitor

No helila me ki bithi dig netak Mayi tepalan piyovur maejae kala la muka aerae nil taellak

(Did not the long-eyed one on the wall—the fair one—say to me “Open your mouth and speak after having placed between the breasts a blue necklet”)

Here we have the poet’s lady love telling her suitor to speak no more till he makes her his betrothed by tying on her neck a marriage necklet known as taella . The tying of the tali as a symbol of marriage still exists among Tamil women, but this verse suggests Sinhalese women also had such a custom. In fact, this term survived until recent times. Benjamin Clough in his Sinhalese-English Dictionary (1830) gives taella as ‘a kind of ornament or gold collar worn on the neck or breast of women, particularly on the day of marriage’.

The Couplet of Sevu, Wife of Nidalu Mihid:

Mahanela bara varala gela huna pihira La rasan aedini tama me baeluma sevataka vi apa nununagata

(This look of yours from a corner of your eye has been recognized by us as that of a co-wife- of you whose hair laden with blue water lilies combed stylishly drops down on your neck)

Lady Sevu here feigns jealousy for a pretty damsel on the rock face and uses the word sevata to address her. By this, she means a rival co-wife, since the word has its origins in the Sanskrit Sapatni ‘co-wife’. Polygamy was known in ancient India. The Rig Veda, for instance, compares a man attacked on all sides by his foes to a husband troubled by his jealous wives. The ancient Sinhalese also practiced it. The Mahavamsa refers to the five hundred women of the harem of King Devanam Piya Tissa. However, by the time Robert Knox wrote his Historical Relation of Ceylon in 1681, it was hardly, if ever, practiced, for he observes: “ In this countrey each man, even the greatest, hath but one wife, but a woman often has two husbands, for it is lawful and common with them for two brothers to keep house together with one wife ”.

Colonial times saw the practice outlawed once and for all so that in modern Sinhala, a mistress who is outside the law would simply be known as Hora Gaehaeni (rogue woman).

The Lines of the Lovelorn Loser

Aganini at salav me gi pohonnek neati da Nava bag la sand minisak hu no vajanneyi

(O women, wave your hands though there be none who values this song. A man who has seen the young new moon of Bag should never be rejected)

The poet is suggesting that a man who had seen the new crescent moon of Bag (known in modern Sinhala as Bak-Maasa ) should not be spurned by women, implying the ritual sighting of the moon had a Saturnalian character in the olden days. The Handa Balima, or ‘Looking at the Moon’ to usher in the Sinhala New Year in the month of Bak, may still take place. It did until very recent times. The ceremony involved looking at the moon for the first time after the dawn of the Sinhalese New Year. An earthen vessel was filled with water and folks beheld the image of the moon in the water.

Professor Vini Vitharana, in his little known work Sun and Moon in Sinhala Culture (1993), mentions a minor festival known as Maase performed in the southern coastal belt, between the towns of Matara and Tangalle, on the day of the New Year; which he believed to be the slowly disappearing vestiges of a once widespread lunar festival. The term is probably a shortened form of Maase Poya (New or Crescent Moon). Professor Vitharana notes that as soon as the new moon is sighted, it is customary for one to taste something sweet and look at a pleasant face, especially of a youthful female, which brings to mind the amorous words of our poet.

This seems to be the survival of an old Aryan custom. In ancient India Bhaga (the predecessor of the Sigiri Bag and modern Sinhala Bak ) was the name of a solar deity who presided over love and marriage. Their Aryan cousins in Iran also had a similar deity known as Baga who seems to have presided over nuptials, as suggested by the Soghdian word for wedding — Baghani Spakte or Baga Union, — a union presided over by this deity. It also figures as the name of the month of Phalguna, in the form Bhaga-Maasa from which the Sinhala Bak-Maha takes its name. Curiously, the term is often associated with dalliance and sexual pleasure and also denotes the vulva or female sex organ, a construction of which bhaga-mani (‘Jewel of the vulva’ or ‘gem of pleasure’) is applied to the clitoris in Sinhala.

Thus it is possible that in the olden days, the Sinhala New Year, besides being a festival dedicated to the Sun and the bountiful harvests it gave, was also a lunar festival centred on a now obscure fertility cult.

The Sigiri Poets, through their graffiti, left us a veritable time capsule, through which we could reconstruct the times they lived in with some certainty. If poetry is the expression of one’s world with a few words, then our Poets certainly achieved that with the few lines they left us.

Cover image courtesy Pixabay

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

112 comments:

King Khashyapa's brother is King Mugalan. Not Mihidu. Please correct this.

In this essay have many spelling problems

Verry important information

Thanks for this thees are very important informations.

Sigiria is an ancient city in Sri Lanka

Every one have mistake don't say like that ok

It is very nice , Thank you

Yes Mugalan (moggallana).

Very important details

Yah it is Mugalan not Moggalana

Nope.these two names are correct (Mugalan/Moggallana)

King Khashyapa's brother is Mugalan.

Very important details 👈

Nice post and pics about sigiriya. Sigiriya is truly awesome place see this post to know more about Sigiriya.

I really helpful this thanks you 👍

No word to tell.it's a very Valuable place in Sri Lanka.

It's true

Very use full information

Information is very fruitful

Kasyapa's brother is Mugalan .not mihidu .But information is very useful

Don' you know? King kashyapa's brother is MUGALAN Please correct this

This was very helpful for my studies. Thank youall.😄😄😄❤❤❤👍👍👍👌👌👌✋✋✋

Thank you very much

This was very helpful for my studies. Thank youall.��❤❤❤��✋✋✋

Yes it is very helpful for my assignment on the topic of the sigiriya rock. Thank you so so so much.❤❤❤❤❤💗💗💗💗😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍❤❤❤❤❤

Don't you know king Kashyapa's brother king Mugallan?

Shut up dear don't ask like that

You shut up asshole

Aww! This is damn helpful to understand the history and their knowledge!

Very interesting

மிகவும் நன்று🙌🙌 என்றும் இவ்வாறு

It's very useful❤️ thank you... but you have to correct king kahsyapa's brother is mugalan not mihindu😒

Thank you. It's very useful for my son's studies.

වැරදි අදහස්

Nice.but there ara small mistakes.

It is very interesting

Thanks for help me...��

Helpful🌎🌎✌️✌️

Very helpful

Nice..but there are small mistake...

It is nice...but you have to correct quickly king kashapa's brother is mugalan not mihidhu..don't chainge our(sihala nation) chronicle ....thank you..

this is very useful for my studies,thanks

This is very useful for everyone and thanks a lot for this description

King kashysppa's brother is mugalan. And this is very helpful for my essay. Thank you. The picture are clear. Last trip o went to sigiriya as a trip without a guide and a notebook. So, I couldn't get all the information in my mind. But this information made me to get a lot of information. And for the last. I say, thank you

Spelling mistakes are most in this essay.

What are they????

It is very helpful

Mugalan is king kashyapa's brother..not mihidu

Useful essay

That's most helpful thanks ✌️

It is very helpful essay thank you so much

Thanks this is very helpful thanks 🖤🖤

This article is very useful for my studies

Very very useful

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i had seen hydraulikpresse gebraucht in that fortress what do you think there were getting used in that fortress ??

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Sigiriya: An Early Designed Landscape in Sri Lanka

2018, Orientations

Inscribed today on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, Sigiriya, an archaeological site in central Sri Lanka, may be one of the oldest gardens known in Asia. The late antique (4th–7th century) remains of buildings, zoomorphic architecture and rock paintings upon its central outcrop have elicited interpretation since the late 19th century (Figs 1 and 2). Sigiriya was thought to be a palace complex, and the art historian Ananda Coomaraswamy likened its paintings to the Gupta period (c. 320–550 CE) cave paintings at Ajanta in India (Coomaraswamy, 1971, p. 163).

Related Papers

Jinadasa katupotha

Sigiriya Managing Heritage with Community

Jagath Weerasinghe

The history of archaeology at Sigiriya, in its antiquarian manifestation that worked with the notions of discovery and adventure, began in the mid-19 th century with the adventures of European explorers. The published travelogues of Major Jonathan Forbes on the island 1 are an early example of this. A century later, by the mid-decades of the 20 th century, Sigiriya had begun to permeate and play a vital role in the shaping of the historical consciousness of modern Sri Lankans. The migration of the idea of Sigiriya, and other similar sites that the adventurous colonial explorers first brought into the discourse of discovery from ruined wild places, and then to the discourse of archaeology and heritage, over time, registered the notions of the ancient glory of the Sinhalese, with nationalist rhetoric that fueled anti-colonial sentiments. The colonial discourse of "discovery", bolstered by authoritative English-language publications on Sigiriya and other such sites, ensured this migration and persisted throughout the 20 th century, first by colonial archaeologists and then by their brown descendants as an integral component of the discipline of archaeology 2 .

The conditions that affect the heritage management of archaeological sites in Sri Lanka arise from two interrelated but distinct histories. One has its roots in the colonial legacy of Sri Lankan archaeology, and the other in the populist-nationalist politics that draw rhetorical strength from archaeology and history. In this setting, "heritage" 1 means religion and ethnic identity. In a word, ethnonationalist. Since its inception in the late 19th century and its engagement in Anuradhapura, the Archaeological Survey Department of Ceylon (now the Department of Archaeology) had to negotiate the idea of heritage and "sacred site." The demands by Buddhist devotees, led by Walisinha Harishchandra in the early 1900s, that confronted the Archaeological Survey Department in the historic city of Anuradhapura was a struggle between colonial archaeology and the idea of heritage. Buddhists urged that the living characteristics of historic Buddhist sites be taken into account in their preservation 2. These early-twentieth-century clashes with colonial archaeology had long-lasting consequences for the country's post-colonial politics. The ancient city of Anuradhapura, thus acquiring a wealth of historical truths through colonial archaeology, and having been co-opted in a nationalist discourse, pitched by Harishchandra, that showed a particular kind of anti-colonial sentiments 3 , became the treasured historical center for Sinhala-Buddhists in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura became the ethnonationalist symbol of the ancient grandeur and political authority of modern Buddhist rulers 4. These two mutually inclusive histories effectively keep archaeology from becoming a critical social practice. For a significant majority of Sri Lankan archaeologists, archaeology remains a project to construct culture-historical narratives about the country's past, using a loosely positivist-empiricist and commonsense approach of knowledge production entangled in locating essences and origins in ethnic, geographical, and chronological categories in Sri Lanka's past 5. Finding such

Prashantha Mandawala

Aditya Joshi

D.A.M.S. Silva

VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTION OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPES OF SRI LANKA Silva, D.A.M.S.* and Yakandawala, K.** Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, Faculty of Agriculture and Plantation Management, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Makandura, Gonawila (NWP), Sri Lanka *[email protected], **[email protected] ABSTRACT The history of architecture in Sri Lanka spans to the prehistoric era. However, well developed architectural and landscaping knowledge was transmitted from Indo-Aryan settlers, after Buddhism was introduced in 3rd century BC. Ancient Sri Lankan architecture primarily developed around religion. Sustainability and natural balance were key philosophies of this. All these monuments and landscapes have a remarkable calming effect on visitors. Remains of Buddhist and Hindu shrines, literature, maps and silpa texts are the main sources of evidence for studying ancient architecture and landscape gardening in Sri Lanka. Historic books like Mahawansa gives a detailed explanation of construction efforts led by each king during their ruling dynasties. Sinhala and Pali books written by great scholar monks, specially the Sandesha kavyas provide descriptive information on ancient buildings and gardens as well the biodiversity of surrounding landscapes. Stupas, the world's universal Buddhist architectural monuments, were built to preserve holy artifacts of the Lord Buddha. Ancient Stupas emphasize architectural and engineering capabilities of the ancestors of the island, and Stupas are considered the largest brick monuments of the pre-modern world. Sri Lankan Buddhist architecture was under threat ever since it was introduced, first by the South Indian invasion, then by Europeans, and recently by civil war, when many architectural monuments as well as architectural documents were destroyed. In spite of the brave effort by the Sri Lankan people, Buddhist monks, and leaders who tried to protect ancient Buddhist monuments, many of them have rapidly decayed and have been destroyed in the past. The protection and restoration of ancient architecture, its theories and techniques has become a challenge to the present generation. Focus should not be limited to protecting, maintaining and restoring ancient heritage but also on the need to reuse these principles in modern architecture and landscaping, mainly because of its sustainability and ecological balance. Developing 3D models of ancient monuments using computer software is very useful for in-depth studies and reconstruction efforts. However, designing 3D models using traditional geometrical designing software such as AutoCAD, Maya, 3D’s max are sophisticated and time consuming. Google SketchUp was recently introduced as a free and open source 3D modeling system, which is user-friendly and easy to learn. Now many engineers, architects, researchers and students are using Google SketchUp together with Google Earth in engineering, geography and archeology projects as a rapid designing tool. KEYWORDS: Buddhist Architecture, Computer Aided Designing, Archeology, 3D modeling

Roots of Sri Lankan Art

Osmund Bopearachchi

The present book is the first of five volumes that I wish to publish in the near future on Śrī Laṅkān art. The next book will be on the sculptures of the Classical Period (5th-10th century CE). The third book will cover Buddhist and Hindu sculptures of the Polonnaruwa period (11th-13th century). The fourth one will be on the Yapahuwa and Kandiyan periods (13th-20th century). The final volume will focus on the mural paintings extending from the 2nd century to the 20th century CE.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

Thusitha Wagalawatta

Robin Jones

Robin Jones Abstract This paper discusses the landscape garden of Lunuganga, Sri Lanka designed by the architect Geoffrey Bawa for himself after 1948. It assesses this space as a site of memory and a location where modernity and history are negotiated. The present article theorizes the making of Lunuganga in relation to the production of modernity in Sri Lanka and negotiation of the island’s relationship to colonial and pre-colonial histories. The island of Sri Lanka has a long history of the development of cultural landscapes. Bawa’s landscapes can be located within these traditions. Furthermore, the time he spent in Europe furnished him with an understanding of the picturesque landscape tradition. Lunuganga could be described as a site where these (colonial) histories and vernacular traditions re-staged or re-presented the modern in contemporary Sri Lanka. Bawa’s landscapes can also be ‘read’ as ‘sites of memory’, where, although of the modern era, the past is recalled. The landscape of Lunuganga references negotiations between adoption of a universal modern, with its taint of colonial subjugation, the neglect of this troubled past and the pursuit of an uncomplex indigenism and, in so doing, intervenes in the production of modernity in Sri Lanka.

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