The rock is known as Sigiriya (see-gee-REE-yah) and holds a special place in the island’s cultural history. It has established as the stronghold of a rogue king over 1,500 years ago, and today the Sigiriya complex stands as one of the earliest preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
Sigiriya has designated as a world heritage site in 1982. Sigiriya is famous for its palace ruins on top of a massive 200-meter-high rock surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. The stone is a lava plug from an ancient long extinct volcano. Archeological excavations have proven that Sigiriya and its surrounding territories have occupied them for over 4000 years. Since the 3rd century bs, Sigiriya had used as a monastery, and it has turned into a royal palace after eight centuries.
Want to Visit? Sigiriya (The Lion Rock) is an old stone fort used by a king of Sri Lanka as a place to build his palace and hide from his brother’s attacks, Sigiriya (The Lion Rock) is often considered the eighth wonder of the world. Sigiriya has built by the fifth-century king Kashyapa I, who ruled the native Sinhalese dynasty, the Moriya. The imposing fortress was the Sinhalese empire’s capital until Kashyapa has defeated in A.D. 495.
Sigiriya is also renowned for its 5th-century pre-Christian frescoes, reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves paintings in India. One of the eight World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka, it has also been declared by UNESCO as the 8th Wonder of the World.
Sigiriya is considered one of the first millennium’s most significant urban planning sites, and the site plan is considered very elaborate and imaginative. The method combined concepts of symmetry and asymmetry to intentionally interlock the artificial geometrical and natural forms of the surroundings.
The citadel on top of Sigiriya has built by King Kasyapa, who ruled from 477 to 495 CE. The King chose Sigiriya as his residence because it saved him adequately from attack. Kasyapa’s brother, Moggallana, was the rightful heir to the throne.
The igneous rock earned its name from the enormous lion, which greeted visitors halfway up the stone on a small plateau. A gateway to the Sigiriya, a lion carved from rock, served to both welcome visitors and warned enemies.
While the Buddhist faith encouraged monarchs to avoid self-indulgence, Kasyapa had rejected by his people and felt no need to be bound by these rules. Instead, he used his wealth to design an extravagant kingdom for himself, complete with beautiful gardens, pools, and fountains.
While most people flock to Sigiriya for the Rock Fortress, the stunning former royal gardens surrounding the area are also more than worth your time. The gardens are peaceful and lush, with picturesque terraced gardens, lovely water fountains and features, and many natural boulders.
Given the humidity levels, the temperature is warm all year round, with considerable rainfall for half the year. The best time to visit Sigiriya is in July, August, and next January, during which time you’ll find all flights and hotel fares at their peak unless you book in advance.
