Sigiriya – Rising above Expectations

Literally translating to “Lion’s Rock,” Sigiriya is one of the most famous historical, geological and cultural sites in the whole of Sri Lanka. Walk into a Sri Lankan gift shop or post office and the chances are you’ll see enough postcards of the giant stone structure to resurrect a giant bamboo plant if you had such a power. Needless to say Sigiriya is a landmark of Sri Lankan civilization, and was once a citadel for Kings long gone. Its significance in the island’s culture has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of seven in Sri Lanka.

Geography

Sigiriya is situated in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sir Lanka and is the main focus of a range of ancient and beautiful structures that have been carved into or built onto the surrounding landscape. It is also within the so-called cultural triangle, which contains 5 of the 7 World Heritage Sites in the country.

The rock itself is what remains of a prehistoric volcano (the fact that Sri Lanka does not lie on or near a plate margin is testament to how long ago the rock was formed, as the island must have been on a different location on the earth’s surface for this to occur). Sigiriya is what remains of a volcano that was eroded over time to leave its hardened magma core, and it towers 370 metres in the air, with sheer drops on all sides that give the rock its unique shape.

History

Some say that Sigiriya was inhabited by humans as far back as the Mesolithic period five thousands years ago. Rock shelters at the foot of Sigiriya were seen to serve as Buddhist monastic settlements from the 3rd century BC onwards, as inscriptions on the rock walls record the donation of these shelters to the Buddhist monastic order.

When Prince Kasyapa seized the throne from King Dhatusena in 447 AD and usurped the rightful heir, he moved the capital of the Kingdom and thus the royal seat from Anurhadapura to Sigiriya, as he believed the rock would serve as a stronger fortress against his enemies. It was during his rule that Sigiriya was developed into a city of its own, with many of the structures and monuments that one can see there today.

Once Kasyapa was overthrown in 495 AD by the once rightful heir, Mogallana, the capital and seat of the throne were moved back to Anurhadapura and Sigiriya was returned to the Buddhist monastic order for the next few centuries. In the 1500s Sigiriya became a major centre in the Kingdom of Kandy, but was abandoned again after a few centuries.

The Site and Surroundings

Sigiriya itself once had a palace at its flat summit that was constructed by King Kasyapa during his reign. Today one can climb the steps up to the top of the giant rock and see the base of the castle. Not far from the top you will come across the Lion Gate, a majestic entrance to the remaining few steps in the shape of a lion’s two front paws. Further down you will see the mirror wall, which contains ancient frescoes painted in the traditional style. At the base the rock shelters remain for all to see.

Surrounding Sigiriya is an expanse of ancient gardens, some of the oldest planned gardens in the world. These were built either as water gardens, cave and boulder gardens or terraced gardens, and their unique characteristics can still be seen today. Reservoirs can also be found in close proximity to the rock, and a moat that surrounds Sigiriya is a beautiful place to take a stroll by, especially during dawn or dusk when the sky above the flat plains and the water of the moat are illuminated brilliantly by the sun’s rays.

One can find a range of hotels and resorts to lodge at during a stay in Sigiriya. A favourite among visitors is the Sigiriya Village Hotel not far from the rock. Guided tours and other services and facilities are also available. Contact your local travel agent for further details.