SIGIRIYA

Location :

Sigiriya is one of the UNESCO listed world heritage sites situated in Sri Lanka. It is an ancient rock fortress that has subjected to so many chronicles running around Sri Lankan history. It is located in Mathale District, in Central Province of Sri Lanka.

Climate :

Weather:

temp.- 24 c}

Wind E at 11 km/h}

Humidity – 82%}

History :

The name Sigiriya refers to a site full of historical and archeological significance. The roots of the history of this massive creature run upon the era of king Ravana who ruled the country before the arrival of Aryans. According to those ancient sources, Sigiriya is identified as “The city of gods” which was built by the father of king Ravana. In that era Sigiriya was named as “Chithranakuta”. After the death of king Ravana, Vibeeshana owned the throne and became as the king. Then he shifted his kingdom from Sigiriya to Kelaniya. After that, nearly around 3rd century ; Sigiriya was a sacred place for Buddhist monastic settlements. Hence, Buddhist monastic establishments were happened centering Sigiriya.

Addition to that, nearly around 477 CE the prince Kashyapa ; a son of king Dhathusena who wasn’t owned throne legally assassinated the king. The prince Moggallana ; brother of Kashyapa was the rightful heir of the throne. He fled to India to escape being assassinated by Kashyapa. King Kashyapa was doubt minded about the revenge of Moggallana. Hence, he wanted a most secure place to shift his kingdom. Then he moved his capital and residence from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya for his prevention. In that case, he made Sigiriya to a powerful fortress and a complex city. Palace, gardens and another defensive structures were some aspects that helped him to be success in the process of supplying novel sketch for this natural rock.

Significance of the creatures in Sigiriya

Sigiriya is an enormous column of rock nearly with a height of 200 meters(660ft). King Kashyapa owns the gratitude for converting this rock in to an attractive creature with a palace on the rock summit. And the sides of this palace were decorated with world famous colourful “Frescoes”. The most attractive significance regarding this place is its gate way. Entrance to this marvelous creature should be done through an enormous structure of a lion carved by the natural rock. Hence its name has been originated as Sinhagiri(The lions rock). Today we call it as Sigiriya as a breaking word from its ancient name. “The mirror wall” also another aspect of Sigiriya which exposes the feelings of ancient visitors. It contains ancient letters and verses written by ancient people of the kingdom. And the gardens which were maintained to carry on the beauty of the palace also play an important role while talking about Sigiriya. Those physical creatures multiple the value of Sigiriya in thousand times.

• Frescoes

Frescoes are the colourful paintings that lie on the western face of the rock. Those are painting sketches of beautiful ladies. Here used painting skills and styles differ from Anuradhapura era paintings. About 500 ladies can be recognized while observing these paintings. They were known as escort of the king waiting for religious observances. Anyhow, those paintings always capable of catching visitors’ eyes towards them. Combination of colours is in an expert manner in those frescoes. It is discovered a close relationship within frescoes and paintings of Ajantha caves in India.

• Mirror Wall

Mirror wall is made up of bricks and covered in highly polished white plaster. This wall is partially covered by graffiti written by ancient strange visitors of Sigiriya. History of those written verses run backward nearly for 8th century. Mirror wall points out feelings of those visitors such as love, irony, sorrow and their experiences too. Nowadays it is prohibited to write on mirror wall for the protection of old writings. This mirror wall supplies a massive aid to observe the social status of the livings of that era.

• Gardens

Water gardens, boulder gardens and terraced gardens can be discovered in Sigiriya premises. That water gardens were created according to a hydraulic system consisting hidden waterways, channels, pools and lakes. Nowadays whole world wonder about the technology used in constructing this water gardens and plans of cool palaces can be identified next to water gardens. Boulder garden complex consists of royal pavilions, resting places made up of rocks.