Description of the attraction
Sigiriya (translated from Sinhalese "Lion Rock") is one of the main symbols of Sri Lanka and is very popular with tourists. It is located in the central region of Sri Lanka - Matale - and is a rock with an ancient fortress and palace ruins. It is surrounded by the remains of an ancient garden and ponds. Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient murals, which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves in India.
Sigiriya may have been inhabited since prehistoric times and has been used as a rock monastery since the 5th century BC. According to the chronicle, the entire complex was built by King Kassap (477 - 495 AD), and after his death it was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
King Kassapa I came to power by killing his father and taking power from his brother. Rightly fearing the latter's revenge, he lived in a fortified palace built on this rock, which was considered an impregnable place. However, it was there that he was defeated after a short but brutal battle in 495, after which he cut his own throat. After the death of Kassap, Moggallan returned Sigiriya to the monks, condemning it to neglect.
During the eleven years that Kassapa lived in Sigiriya, he created a pompous residence and founded his capital there, the impressive remains of which are still preserved. At the top of the cliff is the palace with its ruined buildings, sculptures and pool. At the foot of the cliff are two quarters of the lower city, which are protected by two massive walls: the eastern quarter, which has not been fully excavated, and the aristocratic quarter, which houses gardens lushly decorated with canals and fountains.
Halfway up the cliff, in a rocky cave in a vertical wall on the west side, there are rock carvings that have gained world fame and have become one of the symbols of Sri Lanka - "the virgin from the cloud": 21 female figures, comparable to the most beautiful creations of Ajanta.
The verses carved into the rock, known as the "Sigiriya Graffiti", are among the most ancient texts in the Sinhalese language, and thus show the significant influence of Sigiriya on literature and philosophy.
Sigiriya is one of the eight Sri Lankan UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Reviews
| All reviews 0 Vladimir Bargut 2015-11-10 6:29:00 AM
Ancient pyramid In the photo, near the Lion Rock, you can see the outlines of a huge pyramid overgrown with forest. It is similar to the famous Bosnian pyramids in the Balkans and to the ancient pyramids in the PRC. Apparently, the rock with the city distracted the attention of people so much that no one saw the pyramid in the pyramid.
5 Oksana 2014-03-08 20:34:43
Our ascent to Sigiriya A mystical and enchanting place. It is a pity that we did not spend the whole day in Sigiriya. We arrived there with a guide after lunch and while we examined the lower excavations and walked to the foot, we climbed the mountain when it was getting dark, maybe that's why everything remained mystically in my memory. But we managed to do everything and climb from …
5 Irina 2013-17-05 11:09:59
The most beautiful place A real adventure! It is advisable to go here in the morning, while it is not so hot. Tune in for a long climb. Elderly people with a weak heart - I advise you to think. Children under 10 years old, it is better to leave at the bottom. Be sure to take drinking water with you. The dress code is as closed as possible (cotton trousers, shirts with …
