-**Sigiriya is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is approximately 180 m (590 ft) high.It is a site of historical and archaeological significance.
-**King Kashyapa was selected by (AD 477–495) for his new capital.He built his palace on top of this rock. King Kashyapa built his palace atop the massive rock, which stands approximately 180 meters (590 feet) high. Its ruins can still be seen today.
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| Photo by sander traa on Unsplash |
-**The Sigiriya site contains the ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palaces clings to the slopes below the rocks. Half-nude paintings of women are painted on its stone rooms. How water was taken to Galamuduna is still a mystery.
-**The moats, walls and gardens of the palace extended for a few hundred metres from the base of the rock. The site was both a palace and a fortress. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock.On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion.
-**The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
-**The Aligala rock shelter to the east of Sigiriya rock provides evidence of human habitation nearly five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period.During the 3rd century BC, Buddhist monastic settlements were established in the western and northern slopes of the boulder-strewn hills surrounding Sigiriya.
-**Rock shelters and caves were created during this period , often under large boulders. Many of these shelters have rock inscriptions near the drip ledges, recording donations to the Buddhist temple order.
-**Sigiriya’s architectural features include the mirror wall , water gardens, boulder gardens, and terraced gardens.The site’s strategic location and impressive structures make it a remarkable example of ancient urban planning.
-**Every year , a million sri lankans and tourists from abroad and Sri Lanka visit Sigiriya. Lions Rock provides glimpses into the rich historical and artistic past of Sri Lanka.I strongly advise seeing the historic stone fort for yourself if you ever get the chance to travel to Sri Lanka!