The 8th World Wonder Sigiriya

What is Sigiriya?

The historic rock castle and palace known as Sigiriya is 660 feet straight up in the air and was constructed by King Kashyapa between 473 and 495. It is situated in Sri Lanka’s central province’s northern Matale district, close to the town of Dambulla. Before reaching the Lion Rock Fortress at the summit of Sigiriya, you must ascend 1200 steps, which is known as Sigiriya or the Sinhagiri. There are various platforms that divide the steps and provide space for a little rest if necessary. As one of Sri Lanka’s most well-known archaeological treasures today, Sigiriya Rock Fortress was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 under the name “Ancient City of Sigiriya Sri Lanka.”

History of Sigiriya Fortress

Historic studies accomplished on the website online has introduced to mild proof to reveal that the origins of Sigiriya date lower back to pre-historical times. Situated at the base of the Sigiriya rock of its jap facet, is a monadnock named Ali gala (Elephant Rock). In a cave underneath this, excavation have found out remains of pre-historic human settlements that existed right here around 5,500 years B.P. Similarly, there is proof of human habitation in this region, as some distance again in records because the ninth — 10th centuries B.C.

In the 3rd century B.C. A Buddhist monastery were mounted at Sigiriya rock castle. Thirty cave-shelters with drip-ledges, which accommodate monks, have been recognized at the base of the super rock thus far. In eight of them, info of donations of cave shelters have been inscribed in Brahmi script.
All the important structures which might be located today in Sigiriya, had been erected all through the reign of King Kashyapa (A.D. 477–495), who chose to make Sigiriya as his seat of management. According to the eminent archaeologist Prof: Senerath Paranavithana, Sigiriya displays the sensuousness of a pride-loving king, who modelled the metropolis on the mythical Alakananda of God Kuver. Indian and Roman cash and pottery belonging to the Sassanian dynasty of Persia (Iran) located in Sigiriya rock citadel in addition to the affinity to Persian styles in the advent of pride gardens all imply commercial and cultural family members with foreign international locations at some point of this quick period.

Architecture of Sigiriya Lion Rock

This fortified lawn city of Sigiriya rock fortress is a splendid masterpiece of historic urban making plans / landscape & structure / construction generation /brilliant hydraulic engineering & management / ancient excellent artwork with specific harmony between nature and human creativeness and all these residing examples proved that it turned into a nicely planned city & Palace in fifth Century ad. Sigiriya rock fortress is recognized as one of the great preserved surviving historic city sites in Asia from the first millennium or surely it’s a living Museum. Sigiriya world history web page is flexible and plenty of-faceted appeal, and it is one among Sri Lanka’s historical political capitals and Sri Lanka’s maximum sensational heritage website online.

The existence of Sigiriya till today

“Sigiriya Lion Rock citadel in 7th advert”
Subsequently however, within the sixth and 7th centuries A.D., Sigiriya ceased to be of political importance and once again have become the dwelling house of Buddhist priests. In the course of this period, the cave-shelters with drip-ledges which belonged to the earlier monastic section were further advanced. Additional shrines including stupa, photo residence and bodhi tree shrine have been constructed. This 2nd section of the monastic development persisted as much as the twelfth — 13th centuries A.D.

“Nineteenth Century Sigiriya Rock”
In the centuries that followed, Sigiriya become totally deserted, till the nineteenth century, when it became used as an army out-publish of the kings of Kandy. Later, it turned into a British army. Officer, Jonathan Forbes in 1832, who over again added Sigiriya out of its obscurity, again into ancient recognition. In 1894, underneath H.C.P. Bell the Archaeological department commenced archaeological activities in Sigiriya. Almost a century later, in 1982, the principal Cultural Fund took over the assignment, which it maintains with tremendous achievement, so far.

City planning of Sigiriya Rock

The Lion rock Sigiriya has fortified precincts wherein the western precinct encompasses ninety hectares, and the jap precinct covers 40 hectares. The western vicinity changed into the royal park area, a symmetrically-designed pleasure garden with intricate water-retaining systems, as well as surface and subsurface hydraulic systems. It’s miles surrounded by way of 3 ramparts and moats, forming a rectangular area whose internal precincts measure about 700 meters from east to west and 500 meters from north to south.

Water Garden / Landscape & Gardening of Sigiriya

The Water Gardens stand out among Sigiriya’s outstanding characteristics. Although the Water gardens initially appear to be a single garden system in concept, there are actually four unique elements that can be seen in their formation. At the moment, these parts are known as the Water Garden Nos. 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Miniature Water Garden.

The Water Garden No. L has symmetrically arranged 4 larges ’L’- formed ponds creating an island inside the centre. That is taken into consideration a unique feature determined in historic garden designs and is called “Char-Bagh’ and this specimen in Water Garden №1 seems to be the maximum ancient one volume within the world today. The Water Garden №2 has fountains, and as a result is also known as the Fountain Garden. Summertime palaces flank facet of this Fountain lawn. Visitors will surprise how the fountains were fed with water. The solution lies inside the moats built spherical the summer season palaces, linked to concealed subterranean channels, which feed. The. Fountains ingeniously arid unobtrusively. Water garden No. Three is placed at a better elevation and has and asymmetrical lay-out, the balance and symmetry of the opposite sections of the garden machine being absent right here. The Miniature Water lawn is a ‘miniaturized’ refinement of the other 3 lawn systems, a sort of micro scale-version of die total idea. The inter-connection between the distinct parts of the Water Gardens and the general balance,’ symmetry and integration. Thereby accomplished is indeed a triumph.

Graffiti on Lion Rock in Sigiriya

Sigiriya graffiti, the Lion’s Paw entrance, the Boulders Garden, the Mirror Wall, the Fresco Paintings of Female Figures, the Extensive Networks of Landscaped Garden, the Water Gardens, the Moats, the Ramparts, and the Remains of the Palace are the primary highlights of Sigiriya Rock.

The lion rock Sigiriya Graffiti were written on the surface of the mirror Wall at Sigiriya. Scribbled at the wall are over 1800 pieces of prose, poetry and observation written through historic travellers. Those graffiti offer a charming insight into the records of Sigiriya and the evolution of language in Sri Lanka over a length of 800 years. The general public of the graffiti talk to the lovely artwork of semi-nude girls. These graffiti verify that this web page became the house of King Kashyapa who ruled from 477 to 495 advert. The texts additionally recommend that the girls depicted inside the frescoes are the ladies of the King’s royal courtroom — the women of the harem.

The graffiti variety from statements of awe, declarations of affection, remark, curses, laments, diary entries, or mere statements of visit.

Many demonstrate a completely high stage of literacy and a deep appreciation of artwork and poetry written in a Sinhala, Sanskrit and Tamil. Those early scribblers have left us valuable insights into the past. Out of these artwork 685 individuals recognized to this point, 12 had been ladies, over half of diagnosed themselves through name, many cited their social rank, and some even stated wherein they got here from cities like Weligama and Riti gala in Sri Lanka. The majority of these visitors appear to have been from the elite of society: royalty, officers, professions, and clergy. There were also squaddies, archers, or even metalworkers. Over 1000 specific words have been recognized.

Sigiriya’s Boulder Garden of Lion Rock

The Boulder Garden incorporates sloping terrain across the valuable rock that is dotted with boulders of diverse sizes. The routes to the palace at the rock summit are laid out through the boulder garden as winding pathways which might be punctuated by using herbal boulder arches. The various unique capabilities of this lawn are the Cistern Rock deriving its name from a massive cistern shaped out of the natural boulder and massive granite slabs, the ‘target audience hall’ wherein a five-meter long fundamental throne is carved out of the dwelling rock, the ’Preaching Rock’ in which a seat is carved out at the flattened edge of a fairly high boulder, and the ‘ Asana Cave’ where a seat is carved out internal a natural cave. Rock caves with drip-ledges and shrines used for the duration of the periods when Sigiriya changed into a Buddhist monastery are also to be visible in this vicinity. The Terraced Garden of Sigiriya Lion Rock lies within the high ground between the Boulder lawn and the Sigiriya rock and its miles common into a chain of approximately concentric terraces with the aid of stone maintaining partitions.

Lion Staircase

The Lion Staircase, which faces north and has two enormous lion paws in front, is the only way to reach the royal residence atop the Sigiriya rock. The remains of a lion figure’s front portion that must have formerly stood there are these brick-and-plaster lion-paws.

Lion Rock Palace Complex in Sigiriya

On top of the Sigiriya rock, there lies a palace complex that spans over 1.5 hectares. The royal palace, which is located to the west, is the main landmark there. To the east lies the palace garden, which has a sizable man-made pool as well as other garden features. A throne made of natural rock can be found on a rock facing the east beneath the palace.

Some Ravanaists have occasionally asserted that the actual palace of Sigiriya is located inside the rock, not atop it. They stated that the seven-story gold-plated metal palace still exists in the rock. In fact, in my perspective, it appears that the stones of Sigiriya’s Lion’s Gate are concealing a very important secret from the outside world.

How is Sigiriya related to Sri Lanka’s Ramayana Yatra?

“Cobra Hood Cave & Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka”
Cobra hood cave additionally called the “Parumaka Naguliya Lena”, is a natural geological formation projected as a cobra hood located inside the boulder lawn of Sigiriya Rock fort complex with plastered indoors of the cave once decorated with floral and animal paintings. That is also a part of the Sigiriya Rock fort complicated (UNESCO global background)

As consistent with the latest explorations of Ramayana in Lanka Pura by way of Mr. Lal Srinivas and Dr. Mirando Obesekara, Sigiriya can be taken into consideration as a submit historical archaeology turning factor of King Ravana. In line with them, Sigiriya can be the Alakamandava or metropolis of the Gods that was constructed up earlier than 50 centuries in the past by King Kuvera who was the 1/2 brother of King Ravana as described within the Ramayanaya yatra Sri Lanka.

Consistent with the Palm Leaf e book (Puskola Potha) of Ravana Watha (Ravana tale) the architect of the Sigiriya changed into a Danava referred to as Maya Danava. He built up Sigiriya on the instructions given by way of King Visthavasa (Vishravasamuni) the father of Ravana. Throughout that period the Sigiriya was known as Alakamandava and all through the period of King Kuwera it turned into referred to as Cithranakuta. After the dying of Ravana, Vibeeshana have become the king and he shifted the kingdom to Kelaniya.

The person-made drip ledge and Brahmi inscription of the third century B.C. Related to this cave suggest that the cave has served as a Buddhist monastery / dwelling for monks. The artwork at the rock ceiling has floral and stylized animal motifs with a geometric composition. The brick paved ground of the cave has been finished with lime plaster. The boulder related 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 the front of the cave.

Consequently, historians believe Sigiriya to have a connection with Ramayana. Its miles believed that the plateau pinnacle became the web page of Ravana’s majestic palace, product of stable gold and crafted by means of Kubera, the God of Wealth, around 50 centuries ago. One study the web page, and you will realize how big an architectural feat this location needs to have been. As believed, this sort of caves is where the King Ravana imprisoned Princess Sita, after abducting her.

Skeletal located at Cobra Hood Cave Sigiriya
The archaeological excavations carried out on the cave / rock refuge has caused the invention of 9 human skeletons. Excavations on the Sigiriya Cobra Hood Cave excavated what seems to be a center historical period burial website online. The excavations yielded skeletal remains of nine people. This study shows that on the time of dying those people were younger healthful adult adult males of 152 cm or greater in peak. Burial practice has been in an extended role in a west-east orientation with hands clasped in front and the face grew to become closer to the south. No burial offerings or other ritual items had been located.

Who Built the Sigiriya rock?

According to the archaeological facts — The King Kashyapa.

According to the ancient myth — The King Rawana.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress FAQ

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?
It is no 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 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.