Sigiriya

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Sigiriya, or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock), is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka.

Here are some details about the site:

  • Structure and Location: It is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m (590 ft) high, which rises some 600 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding plain.

  • Historical Significance: According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, the area was a large forest that King Kashyapa I (CE 477–495) selected for his new capital. He built his palace on top of the rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes.

  • The Lion Gate: About halfway up the rock, King Kashyapa built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name "Sigiriya" is derived from this structure. Today, only the majestic paws of the lion remain, which guard the final staircase.

  • Components: The site contains the ruins of an upper palace on the flat top, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the Mirror Wall with its frescoes, and lower palaces that cling to the slopes below. The moats, walls, and gardens extend for a few hundred meters from the base.

  • Urban Planning: Sigiriya is considered one of the most important urban planning sites of the first millennium, celebrated for its elaborate and imaginative plan that interlocks man-made geometrical and natural forms.

  • Gardens and Hydraulic Systems: Among the significant features are the water gardens, which include fountains and ponds. The sophisticated hydraulic systems consisted of reservoirs and underground terracotta pipes that fed the streams, fountains, and pools.

  • Frescoes: The western wall was almost entirely covered by frescoes depicting female figures, often referred to as "Sigiriya Ladies" or Apsaras (celestial singers and dancers). Eighteen frescoes have survived to this day.

  • Later Use: The capital and royal palace were abandoned after the king's death and it was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.

  • Modern Status: Sigiriya is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site (designated in 1982) and is often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World.




Location: Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

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