SIGIRIYA

THE LION ROCK

Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka's most treasured monuments.

Known by the locals as the eighth miracle of the world, this ancient palace and fortress complex is of considerable archaeological importance and attracts thousands of tourists every year. It is probably the most visited tourist destination in Sri Lanka.

The palace is located between the towns of Dambulla and Habarane on a massive rocky plateau 370 meters above the from the sea level.

Sigiriya rock is 200 meters higher than the surrounding jungles.

Its view astonishes the visitors with the unique harmony between the nature and human imagination of how they are built this. 

The fortress complex includes remnants of a ruined palace, surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast gardens, ponds, canals, alleys and fountains.

The fortress complex includes the remains of a ruined palace. surrounded by large forts, vast gardens, ponds, canals, lanes and springs.

Since 3th century BC the  Sigiriya worshiped as a monastery. In the second half of the 5th century king Kasyapa decided to construct a royal palace here. 

After his death, it became again a Buddhist monastery until it was abandoned at the 14th century. 

The northern side of the rock has the main entrance of the palace.

Sigiriya was designed as the form of a huge stone lion, whose feet have survived up to today but the upper parts of the body were destroyed. 

The shape of sigiriya is look like a lion, that is why it named as the Sigiriya. The term Sigiriya originates from the word Sinhagiri, i.e. Lion Rock.

The western wall of Sigiriya was almost entirely covered by frescoes, created during the reign of King Kasyapa. Eighteen frescoes of those We can see today. 

One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its Mirror wall.

In the old days it was polished so thoroughly.

The Mirror wall is painted with inscriptions and poems written by the visitors of Sigiriya.

The most ancient inscriptions are dated from the 8th century.

These inscriptions are proving that Sigiriya was a tourist destination since more than a thousand years ago. Painting on the wall is strictly prohibited Now.

This amazing architectural monument of the buildings and gardens of Sigiriya demonstrates the unique and creative technical skills and technologies used.

The construction of such a monument on a massive rock about 200 meters above the landscape requires advanced architectural and engineering skills.

Sigiriya Gardens are one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.

In Sigiriya there are water gardens, cave and boulder gardens, as well as terraced gardens.

They are located in the western part of the cliff and are located in a complex hydraulic system, which consists of canals, locks, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains, as well as pumps for surface and underground water supply.

In the rainy season, all channels are filled with water, which begins with the entire area of ​​Sigiriya. The fountains of Sigiriya built in the 5th century are probably the oldest in the world.

The palace and fortress complex is recognized as one of the best examples of ancient urban planning. Given the uniqueness of Sigiriya, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1982. Sigiriya is an unrivaled combination of urban planning, water management, gardening and art.