Sigiriya

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 known for its massive column of rock that reaches nearly 200 meters high. The site dates to the reign of King Kashyappa (477-495 AD), who chose this site as his new capital.

Frescos and Paintings

King Kashyappa decorated the walls with frescoes and built an impressive palace right on top of the rock column, accessible only through the mouth of an enormous carved lion.

John Still, a British archaeologist and author wrote, "The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery.” Also, he further wrote, “the largest picture in the world perhaps."

The fresco depicts a naked woman and is seen as a picture of Kashyappa’s wife and concubine, or as a priest containing religious rites. Although the identity of the unknown woman is depicted in the mural, this unique ancient painting celebrates the beauty of women and has a remarkable historical impact.

The walls of Sigiriya are believed to have originally been plastered and painted white to convey the idea of purity. But Kashyappa was more intent on creating a magnificent spectacle that would stand out and capture the attention of anyone who visited the citadel.

The intricate and lavish gem studded jewellery that adorns the women in these paintings also suggest that they may have been members of the royal family, namely Kashyappa's daughters. There is also a belief that the paintings depict apsaras, or goddesses, that are emerging from the heavens to bless the citadel. This is corroborated by similar depictions in the Ajanta Caves of the Gupta period in Maharashtra, India.

Gardens

Gardens of Sigiriya are also one of the most important aspects of the site. They are in fact, among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. They are divided into three distinct types. Water Gardens, Cave and Boulder Gardens, and Terraced Gardens. Each of them having its own quality and specificity.

Water Gardens

The water gardens can be seen in the central section of the western precinct. There are Three principal gardens found here.

The first garden consists of a plot surrounded by water, and it is connected to the main precinct using four causeways. The second contains two long, deep pools set on either side of the path. Two shallow, serpentine streams lead to these pools. The third garden is situated on a higher level than the other two. It contains a large, octagonal pool with a raised podium on its northeast corner.

The water gardens are built symmetrically on an east-west axis.

Boulder Gardens

The boulder gardens consist of several large boulders linked by winding pathways. The gardens extend from the northern slopes to the southern slopes of the hills at the foot of Sigiriya rock.

Terraced Gardens

The terraced gardens are formed from the natural hill at the base of the Sigiriya rock. A series of terraces rises from the pathways of the boulder garden to the staircases on the rock.

Not Only a Historical Destination

Sigiriya site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now one of the most popular tourist destinations. 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 apsaras (celestial singers and dancers).

Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.