Sigiriya rock complex. Sigiriya is the lion rock or the most famous landmark of Sri Lanka. Complex drainage system
Sigiriya is one of the unique landscapes of Sri Lanka. An imposing, lonely rock rises proudly above the surrounding plain. On the top of the rock in ancient times, life was in full swing - already before our era there were refuges for monks, and later, during the reign of King Kasapa (477-495), Sigiriya turned into a complex city, becoming an impregnable fortress. Basically, the remains of buildings on the rock, including defenses, palaces and gardens, date back to the reign of Kasapa.
Everything built at that time, even in its destroyed form, surprises with its ingenuity and grace. Functional water cisterns still collect water, and incredible, sparsely laid out gardens preserve the remnants of luxury. Everyone, without exception, is amazed by the famous mirror wall, made of a special material and covered with ancient poems. And the ancient temple on the rock has a valuable collection of unusual frescoes of rather frivolous content.
The grandeur of the Kasapa palace complex still leaves an incredible impression, and it is rightfully included in the list of rare and especially valuable historical sites in Sri Lanka.
Elephant nursery in Pinnawala
The Pinnawela Elephant Sanctuary was opened in 1975 on the Maha Oya River. The main goal pursued by the creators of the park was the rescue of orphaned elephant calves, who would face inevitable death if they remained in the wild. Thanks to the successful work of the shelter’s staff, today there are over eighty elephants living here, many of which are the offspring of the very first elephant calves that the nursery sheltered.
Pinnawela Sanctuary houses the largest number of elephants in captivity. This was largely possible thanks to the increased attention from tourists - all the money received from the sale of entrance tickets goes to the maintenance of elephants: after all, each adult eats 72 kilograms of grass per day, as well as 2 kilograms of rice and bran.
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Sigiriya mountain plateau
Sigiriya is a famous mountain plateau in the center of Sri Lanka, on which the ruins of an ancient fortress of the same name and the remains of a Buddhist monastery in a cave are located. Sigiriya is a popular tourist attraction on the island and is recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The word "Sigiriya" means "lion rock". This plateau rises almost two hundred meters above the ground. The first fortification appeared here at the end of the fifth century - King Kasapa ordered the construction of an impregnable fortress on the mountain, which soon became the royal residence. In ancient times, it was an unusually beautiful place - picturesque gardens were laid out around Sigiriya and fountains were built, which were considered one of the first in the world. The famous Lion Gate, which has only partially survived to this day, led to the top of the plateau.
Today Sigiriya is a historical monument. In addition to the surviving Lion Gate, at the top of the plateau there are remains of an ancient fortress and a royal palace, as well as the ruins of a cave monastery. On the rock you can still see old frescoes and poems carved into the stone. In addition, from the top of the plateau there is a wonderful view of the surrounding area, which also attracts many tourists.
Sigiriya, which means “lion rock” in Sinhala, is located almost in the center of the island of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya rises 370 meters above sea level and 170 meters around the surrounding desert plain. The area of this lion rock is 1.5 hectares.
Previously, in the 5th century, the local king Kasyapa lived on the top of a cliff in his palace. Around this fortress there were royal gardens with various ponds and parks. He had a good life :)
Why the fortress is called Lion's Rock - it's all about its shape. The upper part of the rock is made in the form of a large lion, between whose paws a stone staircase began that led to the top. Unfortunately, now only the paws of the lion remain, but they are very impressive. IN 1982 Lion Rock Sigiriya was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This point was one of the first on our plans to visit Sri Lanka, despite its not at all budget entry price. Just imagine, the entrance price for foreigners is $30 per person! And for locals the entrance is 50-60 rupees. But we couldn’t miss such a famous place as Sigiriya and included it in our list of attractions in Sri Lanka.
You can get to Sigiriya by train, bus, taxi or on your own by moped.
- from Colombo - if you want to travel by train, you will have to change trains in Kandy; there are no direct trains. Trains run quite frequently, every 1-2 hours. You can see the schedule. The journey takes approximately 4 hours; in Kandy you need to take a bus that goes to the city of Dambulla, the fare is $1. The drive takes about 2 hours. Next you need to get to Sigiriya, you can take a bus or a tuk-tuk. The distance from Dambulla to Sigiriya is 20 km. You can also take the direct Colombo-Dambulla bus; check the schedule at the Colombo bus station.
- You can get to Sigiriya by taxi from almost anywhere in Sri Lanka
- We traveled on our own by moped to the city of Dambulla from Unawatuna, arrived in the evening, spent the night there in a hotel that we accidentally saw from the road, we liked it, and we stayed in it for $25. The next morning, rested and sleepy, we went to Sigiriya to conquer the lion rock.
Good hotels in Sigiriya on Booking:
Sigiriya - entry fee and opening hours
For foreigners, admission is $30 per person. This is the most expensive attraction in Sri Lanka.
Moreover, even if you can slip unnoticed into the territory of Sigiriya, you are unlikely to be able to climb the rock itself; there are several guards checking tickets in several places.
Sigiriya - opening hours: 08.30 – 17.30, daily
I advise you to arrive at the beginning of the entrance early in the morning; we arrived at about 10 am, since we were staying not far from Sigirri, in Dambulla, in a small cozy hotel.
The sun was already hot. At the parking lot, in front of the entrance, local guides will accost you; you may or may not agree to their services. We did not take a guide with us because we wanted to go together. We read information about Sigiriya in advance, and were, in principle, well aware of what and how it used to be here. 🙂 Although, perhaps, with a guide it would be more interesting at the top, since there are quite a lot of interesting things there. By the way, the guide came up to us and spoke to us in Russian. In principle, his speech was understandable. So, if you want to go with a guide, you need to specifically negotiate a price with him; he offers us a price of around 500 rupees. So, we bought entrance tickets and entered the territory of Sigiriya.
We had a beautiful view of Lion Mountain from below; it seemed very high, we couldn’t even believe that we would climb up. To the left and right of us were small ponds of water, some of which contained many beautiful lilies. We hurried to the rock. It was about 11 am, the sun was already starting to burn. We discovered that we only took 400 ml of water with us for two, the one and a half liter bottle was less than half full. We weren’t too upset, we thought that they probably sell water here, albeit a little more expensive. We met a man who was offering a cold bottle of water, do you know how much? For 600 rupees! While everywhere a 1.5 liter bottle of water costs 70 rupees! We were shocked and refused to buy water from him! And as it turned out, absolutely right! As soon as we walked halfway through the mountain and reached the place where the big paws of the lion stand, we saw that many people were approaching a large barrel and pouring water from it into their bottles or drinking directly from the tap. We did exactly the same. In principle, the water is quite safe to drink.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, even before the rock itself there are several large stones, some even have steps knocked out :)
And behind these two huge stones the main entrance to the Sigiriya rock begins.
The steps are very well made and run along the cliff. It looks very impressive. Everything is fenced in, we stopped periodically because it was very hot. The higher you go, the more beautiful the views open up. In the photo you can see security guards, they periodically check entrance tickets.
All the passages along the wall are made very cool, sometimes you get the feeling that you are somewhere in China on the famous “path of death”.
This is what the Sigiriya Lion Rock looks like halfway up the route. It is this part of it that was once a full-fledged lion, but now you can only see its paws. The last 15-20 minutes and we are already at the top!
At the very top of the lion rock of Sigiriya there is practically no place to hide from the sun; only a couple of trees are located in such a large area.
Sigiriya from above is beautiful! And the views of the places where we just walked are mesmerizing. From here everything seems so small.
We didn’t walk along the top for very long, probably 20-30 minutes. As we understand, the king slept in one place, drank in another, and walked in a third.
There are several pools of water set up here, and the water in them does not dry out. Marvelous.
The king had a place to roam. We walked around, looked, took photos and decided to go down.
At this time, many schoolchildren were climbing up; as we understood, a visit to the Lion Rock of Sigiriya is included in their school curriculum. Great, right?
Sigiriya is one of the most famous attractions in Sri Lanka, which is located near the city of Dambul. The amazing Sigiriya, that is, Lion Mountain, has this name due to the huge stone lion located below, where there are many amazing beautiful places and ancient buildings.
Sigiriya is a free-standing large beautiful rock located on the island of Sri Lanka; there are definitely no similar rocks in the world. The name itself is translated from Sinhala as Lion Mountain, today it is officially called as Ancient City of Sigiriya, that is, the Ancient City of Sigiriya. The unique small city has become widely famous thanks to its amazing ancient frescoes, the ancient large palace in honor of King Kassapa, gardens, fountains and many other attractions. Since the 3rd century, Buddhist monks lived here, and in the 5th century, King Kassapa himself fled to this place, who built a fortress there, where he lived for another 18 years without going down.
To see these wonders, thousands of tourists come here every day from all over the world who want to see the amazing Kassapa Palace in person. This palace is located on Lion Mountain, which today is under the personal protection of the world's heritage and has long been shrouded in various legends. The palace has many ancient interesting secrets, and the Lion Mountain itself is truly majestic and offers a beautiful, gorgeous view from its top. After Kassapa, monks began to actively settle on the rocky plateau, forming a unique cave monastery there.
Sigiriya is one of the unique parts of the cultural route along the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka. Greater Sigiriya is a mountain plateau in the heart of Sri Lanka, where the famous ruins of an ancient fortress are located, and there is also a famous cave monastery.
This large plateau is located 170 km from Colombo in the very center of the island’s Cultural Triangle, 10 km from the big highway. The entrance ticket for a tourist here today costs 3600 LKR, which is approximately $36 for adults, and for minors the entrance fee is $18. It will take you up to 50 minutes to climb this rock; due to the air temperature in this area, it is better to visit the rock only in the early morning.
The Lion Gate of Sigiriya, which was a giant lion, was destroyed long ago; the mouth of this lion was previously the main entrance to the Kassapa fortress. Today, only two lion paws have survived from this gate, the size of which is quite large, so one can only imagine how huge the figure of the animal itself was. These two remaining large paws of the majestic animal have already become a symbol of modern Sri Lanka. Between the paws of a giant sitting lion there is a stone staircase leading directly to the fortress.
Kassapa Palace is located on the top of a mountain and was built back in the 5th century. Next to the palace there are amazing gardens, pools and fountains. The appearance of this fortress is associated with a tragic and almost Shakespearean story, which talks about King Dhatusena, against whom his son Kassapa plotted. Today the fortress is one of the seven major heritage sites of Sri Lanka, now only ruins remain, although they can impress everyone. The palace fortification complex is surrounded by dilapidated buildings, and to get to the palace itself you must overcome as many as 2,100 steps.
The frescoes in Sigiriya are one of the main unique attractions of the palace, where women are depicted in full growth. The artist depicted more than 500 women, although today only a few unique portraits of beauties have survived. It is believed that these are beauties from various countries and guests of Sigiriya who came to visit Sri Lanka, although there is an assumption that these are only the king’s concubines. The frescoes are one of the few examples of ancient religious art of Sri Lanka that have come down to us; the dimensions of all frescoes are 140 meters by 40 meters.
The gardens of the amazing Sigiriya are the central large part of the area near the Lion Rock; these gardens can be considered one of the most landscaped in the world. The large gardens were divided into three separate areas: water gardens, huge rock gardens and terraces. There are also many endless beautiful gardens with fountains and canals around Lion Mountain itself. The best workers of that hour worked to create these beautiful pools and luxurious gardens; many of the fountains at the foot of the mountain remain in excellent condition today.
The mirror wall served to protect passages along a large rock; the best craftsmen of the country made it from a complex unique composition. This composition included lime, eggs and honey, and then this wall was polished to a shine so that you could look there as if in a mirror. Part of the walls were covered with poems left by visitors to this rock, the oldest poems being written back in the 9th century. The poems are mainly about subtle feelings between a woman and a man, as well as about irony and various events. A corridor of mirrors led immediately to the king’s chambers; this is one of the most luxurious ancient rooms of the Sigiriya Palace.
The king's throne is the most interesting and unique part of the palace, as it was carved from a single rock. The large throne of Kassapa is a monolithic bench made of stone with a comfortable back and no decorations; this is where the founder of the fortress himself sat. In addition to the main throne, there are also a number of others located around the palace; the main throne has been preserved in good condition to this day.
In addition to these main attractions, there are others, this is a giant lion staircase made of a huge number of steps with lion paws. At the top of the mountain there are well-preserved pools from the upper palace, and the beautiful pools near the royal garden remain in excellent condition.
Today, tourists will be able to see the ancient fountains that remain in excellent condition, which are located in the palace. An amazingly beautiful arch is located at the rise that runs through the garden, and there are also grottoes for the protection of the palace and the Derianiyagala grotto. The structures of the Lion Mountain are the pride of Sigiriya and Sri Lanka and tourists should definitely visit them.
Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is an ancient ruined mountain fortress with palace remains located in the central Matale region of Sri Lanka. The fortress is surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, swimming pools, and other structures. This is the most popular tourist destination in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient mural paintings. The fortress was built during the reign of King Kasapa I (477 – 495 AD), and is one of the seven world heritage sites of Sri Lanka. We tried to find as much information as possible about this place and invite you to take an excursion into the history of Sigiriya and admire its beauty.
(Total 20 photos)
1. Of course, the main attraction of this place is the mountain palace, located at an altitude of 200 meters.
2. Archaeologists believe that the palace was built at the end of the 4th century. The initiator of the construction was a parricide monarch named Kasapa, who fled to these remote places, fearing the revenge of his brother - the real heir. Sigiriya was inhabited during prehistoric times and was used as a mountain monastery refuge since about the 5th century BC, with caves and monasteries. The garden and palace were built a little later by King Kasapa. After Kasapa's death, the site again became a monastery until the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. The Sigiri inscriptions were deciphered by archaeologist Senarat Paranavitana in his famous work published in Oxford. He also wrote a popular book, The History of Sigiriya.
3. Sigiriya Rock - a powerful formation from the magma of an extinct and long-destroying volcano. The rock rises high above the surrounding plain, visible for many miles in all directions. The rock rests on a steep embankment that rises sharply above the flat plain that surrounds it. The height of the rock is 370 meters above sea level. The mountain on which it was decided to build the palace is an extinct volcano. Researchers believe that even before the construction of the mountain palace, people (mostly monks and hermits) settled here. The palace became a monastery after the death of Kasapa, and several decades later it was completely abandoned by people.
4. Let's move on to the history of this place: The earliest evidence of human presence in Sigiriya was found in the Aligala mountain shelter in the eastern part of the rock. These finds indicate that the area was inhabited almost five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic. During the third century BC, there were mountain cave shelters built by Buddhist monks. These structures were built between the third century BC and the first century AD. During the reign of King Kasapa from 477 to 495 AD, Sigiriya was developed into a complex city, becoming an impregnable fortress. Most of the complex structures on the mountain highlands, including defensive structures, palaces and gardens, date back to the reign of Kasapa. The complex of structures on the mountain is impressive due to the combination of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements. It seems that there is no order in the buildings of the Sigiriya Palace, but in general they all fit harmoniously with each other.
5. Kasapa was defeated in 495 AD, Sigiriya again became a Buddhist monastery - the monks were here until the fourteenth century. After this, no mention of Sigiriya was found until the seventeenth century, when the area became the Kingdom of Kandy. When Kandy's reign ended, Lion Rock was abandoned again. Archaeological work here began in the 1890s. H.C.P Bell was the first archaeologist to conduct extensive surveys of the area around Sigiriya. Large-scale research began in 1982, initiated by the government of Sri Lanka. Of course, today only ruins remain of the palace, but even these remnants of its former grandeur are impressive. In the western part of the palace complex there was a park with several swimming pools. Water was delivered to the top of the mountain using a system of mechanisms that has remained intact to this day.
6. The ancient castle built by Kasyapa remains on the top of the hill to this day, as do parts of the fortress. Despite its age, some of the decisions made by the palace builders are still striking in their ingenuity - the water storage tanks still hold water, and the moats and walls surrounding the palace are still elegant and beautiful. Sigiriya Gardens is the most central part of this area as it is one of the most landscaped gardens in the world. The gardens are divided into three separate areas: water gardens, rock gardens, and terrace gardens. The famous part of Sigiriya is the mirror wall. Originally, this wall was so well polished that the king could see himself while walking next to it. The wall is made of special porcelain porcelain, and is partially covered with poems scribbled by visitors to Lion Rock. The oldest of Sigiriya's poems date back to the 8th century. Many visitors wrote on the wall about love, irony and various events. Later, wall painting was banned. The entrance to the main part of the ancient city, that is, to the palace, was decorated with lion paws and was probably intended only for members of the royal dynasty. Originally, the entrance was the head of a lion, that is, to get into the palace, you had to go through the open mouth! Unfortunately, time has not been kind to such a unique gate...
7. The mirrored corridor led to the royal chambers. This was once one of the most luxurious rooms of the Sigiriya Palace. There were several hundred frescoes here, most of which depicted half-naked women - the ruler’s concubines. It is worth noting that several frescoes have survived to this day.
8. The ancient temple on top of the cliff was a gigantic art gallery, frescoes covered most of the western slope of the cliff, occupying an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. Now many of the frescoes of Sigiriya are lost forever, but the style of this painting is considered unique and inimitable. Sigiriya is the most valuable asset of Sri Lanka, and the government protects it in every possible way.
9. Of course, the colors on them have faded, but you can still see the images on them. Researchers believe that natural paints based on beeswax and egg white were used to create these frescoes. This is what, according to scientists, gave the frescoes such durability.
10. From the hill called “Lion Rock” there is a magnificent view of the surrounding area. Below, in full view, lie rice fields, forests and small lakes. Once on this hill there was a royal pool along with a huge throne.
11. For a long time, the Sigiriya Palace was considered destroyed and lost somewhere in the forests, but in the middle of the 19th century the legendary palace was discovered. A lot of restoration work was carried out here, which is still ongoing. The mountain palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is very popular among tourists. Thousands of travelers come here every year to see the ruins of the ancient palace with their own eyes! Indeed, the history of Sigiriya is shrouded in numerous legends. In the fifth century AD, Kasapa (477-495), the eldest son of King Datusena (459-477), was supposed to inherit the throne, but his father decided in favor of his younger son Mogallan (Kasapa's mother was a concubine). Kasapa was inflamed with hatred of his father and imprisoned him, and in 477 he participated in his death. Mogallana was horrified by the terrible deeds of his elder brother and hid in South India. Fearing revenge, Kasapa decided to build a capital in an inaccessible place. And he chose the Sigiriya rock, 370 m high.
12. The king and his architects cleared the area around the rock and built a magnificent city surrounded by gardens with fountains and pools. They built the most amazing stairs in the world: the steps were carved between the paws, throat and jaws of an incredible size lion. The lion is the emblem of the state and a form of intimidation. The part of the rock above the lion's head was painted with images of Kasapa and his father Datusena. A citadel palace was built on the top of the rock. The quotation begins with the “platform of a lion”, of which only its paws remain. Steps lead to a 1.7 hectare terrace where the palace once stood. From the giant figure of a lion carved into the rock, whose mouth once served as the entrance to the fortress, only the paws have survived, but on the surface of the rock the most curious poetic inscriptions left by visitors to Sigiriya dating back to the 8th century are still preserved.
13. According to the description of travelers, the pediment of the palace, built of marble and surrounded by gardens and ponds, was lined with precious stones. The giant royal throne is well preserved. It is impossible not to be amazed at how the builders of those times lifted the necessary building materials onto the rock. Brick walls were erected along the edges of the cliff with narrow platforms for the sentries, where they could not sleep, risking falling. The stones on the rock were always ready in case of someone's invasion. One of them is still holding on, ready to fall. Travelers also describe a gallery with frescoes and a “mirror wall” polished with mineral. Frescoes depicting a procession of princesses or palace ladies as if floating in the air, and covered with a composition of egg whites and wild bee honey, retained their bright colors. Nobody knows who they are, perhaps just a figment of the artist’s imagination. They wore rich jewelry, tiaras supporting their hair, and flowers in their hands. Frescoes occupied the entire wall of the gallery. Unfortunately, out of 500 frescoes, only 18 have survived. The scratches on the “mirror wall” next to the gallery are simple poems dedicated to the beauty of these women.
14. The western and southern slopes are divided into terraces, where rooms for servants and guards were located. On the western slope, two flights of steps lead up to the cliff. One staircase runs next to a cave dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, whose figurine was discovered here in the 12th century during the reign of King Parakramabahu. Noteworthy is a huge dismembered boulder, on one half of which a water tank is hollowed out. On the other, fallen half, there is a throne and a square platform, where perhaps the meetings of a member of the Council of Ministers took place.
15. According to another version, theatrical performances were held here. In the cave below the boulder, called the “cobra hood,” there are traces of ancient painting on the ceiling - a biography of Kasapa. Among the boulders around the rock, several places of a religious nature were discovered. The cave temple contains an undated torso of a Buddha statue, on which the monks practiced meditation. Preaching Rock, a huge boulder from which sermons were delivered, has a huge number of miniature niches where oil lamps were lit at noon...
16. During his 18 years of ruling from the top of a cliff, Kasapa imagined himself to be the master of the universe. Confident in his strength, he sent word to his brother, who had returned from India with an army, that he wanted to fight him on the plain. But the decision was made unsuccessfully. In the midst of the battle, Kasapa's elephant moved to a nearby pond to drink water. The army decided that the king was fleeing and began to retreat. Left alone, Kasapa cut his own throat. Mogallana destroyed the citadel, destroying traces of its former master, and, taking power into his own hands, restored the capital at Anurahapura. Restoration work is currently underway. Based on literary evidence and archaeological excavations, there is another version of the purpose of Sigiriya. Meteorological data since 1895 indicate that the wind and rain of the two monsoons stopped field work for 8 months a year. February-March are the only months when construction work is possible in this region of the country.
17. So out of the 18 years of Kasapa’s reign, only five years remain for construction, and this includes such colossal works as: clearing the terrain, transporting marble, making and firing bricks, hollowing out niches in the rock to secure the bricks, building a gallery and a “mirror wall” , preparing the rock surface for painting, working on top of the rock, not to mention building around the rock itself. Even if we imagine that thousands of workers were involved, it is almost impossible to complete all this enormous work in such a short time. The palace theory also does not stand up to criticism. During excavations at the top of the rock, a rectangular platform measuring 13 x 7 m was discovered, which was unconditionally recognized as the Kasapa palace. But if this is a palace, then why are there no traces of the presence of rooms, a toilet, columns, or recesses for columns? No remains of a tiled roof were found, but a vessel in which the relics were kept was found. How could a tiled roof withstand the pressure of garbage winds and rains? A giant stone-hewn throne to the south of the platform and at a lower level is the only structure on the summit that shows evidence of a once-existing roof (or canopy), protected by a vertically rising stone wall. In 1833, a stupa that existed at the beginning of this century was discovered on the top; this place is now marked with pegs. Archaeologists have discovered at least 2 construction periods at the top of the cliff and 5 at the base. If the palace and gardens of Sigiriya are the work of Kasapa, then who is responsible for the remaining 4 periods of construction activity? The ruling monarchs were the patrons of the faith. The order of monks enjoyed great privileges in the form of royal subsidies, prestige and patronage. Archaeological excavations confirm that already in the 2nd century. BC there was a large monastic complex here, as evidenced by the presence of a large number of cave temples on the western and northern slopes (excavations have not yet been carried out on the southern and eastern slopes). Inscriptions from the 2nd century AD were discovered in one of the caves. Taking this into account, one cannot even imagine that Kasapa, in a difficult situation for himself, would decide to enter into conflict with the monks just to build a palace on the top of a cliff. The presence of an army on the territory of the monastery is also impossible. On the contrary, the king, army and population had to in every possible way support and protect the guardians of the Buddha's teachings, which Kasapa did. Kasapa could not chop the branch on which he was sitting. During this period of time, the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the relic itself (a symbol of royal power) were located in Anuradhapura, where the government was also located. In Anuradhapura, Kasapa built several temples, including the Kasub-Bo-Upulvan temple (in honor of the god Vishnu). All these facts indicate that Kasapa visited Sigiriya, but could not live there.
18. This rock was also covered in gardens, including terraced ones. Artificial water pools are everywhere - from bottom to top. And the entire water engineering system is capable of operating even now. It’s not always clear what it’s like inside, in the rock, but it works. From the outside you can only see the cut drains to drain water; they are in all the caves along the road. It is unlikely that the construction work of Kasapa in Sigiriya, the patron saint of the Mahayana sect (the liberal direction of Buddhism), could have received approval in the Mahavamsa chronicles, which describe mainly the history of Buddhism and the relations of the ruling monarchs with the church, from which we learn the history of Sigiriya and which were written in the 13th century by the Theravada sect (the teaching of the elders is the orthodox branch of Buddhism). The gap of seven centuries between events and their recording was to the advantage of the chroniclers: it is much more convenient to distort real events and misrepresent Kasapa as a mad genius than to glorify his adherence to a hostile branch of Buddhism. The Theravada movement denies the existence of savior gods, whose main mission is to alleviate our suffering in this life. The meaning of Sigiriya painting can only be understood when the purpose of the complex itself is clear. Typically, painting fulfills a certain role: decorative (such as a wallpaper), or it tries to have an impact, to convey a specific idea that is not necessarily understandable to mere mortals. Considering that the complex is the center of the Mahayana sect, it is not difficult to guess who is depicted in the murals. One of the most respected and revered goddesses of the Mahayana sect is the goddess Tara, the star, the mother of all Buddhas. But why are there so many images of the same person on the Sigiriya rock? Repetition, a very popular mode of expression in Buddhist art, conveys the magical power of the deity not through colossal size, but through repeated repetition, a feeling of infinity. Examples of this were found in India, Central Asia, China, Indonesia, and Burma. One such example in Sri Lanka is the Dambulla Cave Temple. Inscriptions on the "mirror wall", left mainly by visitors from the 8th to 10th centuries, refer to the site as Sihigiri - the Rock of Remembrance. And the chronicles of the 13th century Mahavamsa call the rock Sihigiri - Lion Rock. Believers, climbing to the gallery, to the “lion platform” and finally to the top of the rock, constantly saw the image of the goddess Tara before their eyes. By visually representing the goddess and worshiping her, believers hoped that Tara would ease their suffering and show the way to salvation. Sigiriya is a reminder to believers of Tara, hence the name Rock of Remembrance. The call to meditation is the meaning of the painting of Sigiriya, whose patron was the goddess Tara.
19. According to eyewitnesses of the 19th century, the steps, starting from the “lion platform,” were decorated with sculptures of lions. Examples of the identification of the goddess Tara with a roaring lion are found in India (Ghost, M - Development of Buddhist iconography in eastern India: 1980). Over time, Tara was forgotten by ordinary people. This is evidenced by the fact that visitors of the 10th century and later no longer mentioned Tara, but identified the women in the frescoes with the wives of Kasapa, which was encouraged by the propaganda of the Theravada sect. Considering the above facts, we can conclude: Sigiriya has never been either a capital or a fortress. It was an aesthetically designed monastic complex of the Mahayana Buddhist sect for over 20 centuries. It was easier to lead a righteous life surrounded by beautiful scenery and a favorable climate. Powerful ramparts with ditches drained excess rainwater beyond the territory of the monastery, which otherwise would have been subject to flooding. The so-called palace was nothing more than an open hall for meditation, and the flowering gardens and ponds created an ideal setting for this. Reservoirs with water for ritual ablutions and decorative purposes are not an exclusive phenomenon in Buddhist temples and monasteries.
20. Among the most remarkable aspects of the urban structure of Sigiriya is its mathematical planning and absolute clarity of design. The city plan is based on a precise square module. All buildings and structures are located strictly in relation to the center of coordinates - the palace complex on the top of the cliff. The eastern and western entrances clearly correspond to the east-west axis. The royal water gardens, moats and ramparts of the western zone are based on an 'echo' or 'mirror' plan, which duplicates the arrangement on both sides between north and south from east to west. In its complete concept, Sigiriya is a brilliant combination of symmetry and asymmetry in a block geometric planning and natural shape. Often, when there is low cloudiness at the top, there is an unusual effect when a cloud lies on the top of a rock and people are wandering waist-deep in white clouds. It seems as if you are walking on the heavens. This unusual effect shocks even experienced travelers.
Sigiriya is an ancient ruined mountain fortress with palace remains located in the central Matale region of Sri Lanka. This amazing stone fortress is surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, pools, and other structures. This place is very popular among tourists who travel around Sri Lanka.
The ruins of the city of Sigiriya, built by King Kassapa I, who killed his father, are located on the slopes of a mountain 370 m above sea level. This peak is called Lion Rock and is surrounded on all sides by jungle. The entrance to the city was the huge mouth of a lion... of which now only its paws remain.
Let's find out the history of this grandiose structure...
The fact is that it is impossible to assert any reliability of the events described, because we are talking about the 5th century, but the history of the construction of the fortress in the rock near Sigiriya is as follows. King Kassapa I, having immured his own father in the wall, ascended the throne and began to build a safe fortification with the hands of his slaves to continue his dark, vile deeds. A couple of decades later, Kassapa was killed by his... brother (with the beautiful name Moggallan). If we go into the bloody details, then Kassapa, having such a high and strong shelter, turned out to be so stupid that he mounted an elephant and, taking his army, went out to fight Moggallan and his army. The defeated king, facing reprisals, hastily committed suicide.
Or here's another option:
King Datusen (459-477) had two sons. The eldest is Kassapa, the youngest is Mogallan. The eldest was supposed to inherit the throne, but the father decided to transfer the rule to Mogallan, since Kassapa was the son of one of the many concubines. Kassapa became very angry and in 477, in a fit of anger, he killed his father. Mughalan, fearing that the same fate awaited him, fled to South India.
Fearing revenge, Kassapa decided to build a capital in an inaccessible place. The Sigiriya rock became such a place - its height is almost 200 meters. The chosen place was cleared, and in a short time a beautiful city was erected with many gardens and fountains.
Kassapa ruled this fortress for 18 years and finally decided to fight his brother. He sent him a challenge, and he accepted it. Two huge armies met on the plain. But luck was not on Kassapa’s side; his troops fled. Left alone, Kassapa cut his own throat. Thus ended the history of the great city on top of Sigiriya: Mogallan ordered to erase all traces of his brother's rule by destroying the citadel. The old capital Anaradhapura was again restored.
In general, archaeologists authoritatively assert that about 1000 years before Kassapa, the Lion Rock was already chosen by Buddhist monks, and in general the rock and the surrounding area continuously attracted people for life and prayer for many hundreds of years before and after the moment when Sigiriya was a shelter. It is interesting that the rock coped with its role as the protector of the king very conditionally. Although, in addition to sentinel platforms with guards, fortifications were built on the top, from which huge stone boulders could be thrown onto attackers at any time. The mountain turned out to be more suitable as a haven for religious cults.
Of course, the main attraction of this place is the mountain palace, located at an altitude of 200 meters.
Archaeologists suggest that the palace was built at the end of the 4th century. The initiator of the construction was a parricide monarch named Kasapa, who fled to these remote places, fearing the revenge of his brother - the real heir.
Sigiriya had its inhabitants during prehistoric times and was used as a mountain monastery-refuge since about the 5th century BC, with caves and monasteries. The garden and palace were built a little later by King Kasapa. After Kasapa's death, the site again became a monastery until the 14th century, after which it was abandoned. The Sigiri inscriptions were deciphered by archaeologist Senarat Paranavitana in his famous work published in Oxford. He also wrote a popular book, The History of Sigiriya.
The Sigiriya rock, 370 meters above sea level, is formed from the magma of an extinct and long-destroying volcano. The rock rises high above the surrounding plain, visible for many miles in all directions. The rock, resting on a steep embankment, rises above the flat plain.
Researchers believe that even before the construction of the mountain palace, people (mostly monks and hermits) settled here. The palace became a monastery after the death of Kasapa, and several decades later it was completely abandoned by people.
The story begins with the earliest evidence of human presence in Sigiriya, which was found in the Aligala mountain shelter in the eastern part of the rock. These finds prove that the area was inhabited almost five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic. During the third century BC, there were mountain cave shelters built by Buddhist monks. These structures were built between the third century BC and the first century AD.
During the reign of King Kasapa from 477 to 495 AD, Sigiriya was developed into a complex city, becoming an impregnable fortress. Most of the complex structures on the mountainous hills, including defensive structures, palaces and gardens, date back to the reign of Kasapa
The complex of structures on the mountain is impressive due to the combination of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements. It seems that there is no order in the buildings of the Sigiriya Palace, but in general they all fit harmoniously with each other.
Kasapa ceased to rule in 495 AD, and Sigiriya again became a Buddhist monastery - monks remained here until the fourteenth century. After these events, no mention of Sigiriya was found until the seventeenth century, when the area became the Kingdom of Kandy. When Kandy's reign ended, Lion Rock was abandoned again.
Archaeological work here began in the 1890s. H.C.P Bell was the first archaeologist to conduct extensive surveys of the area around Sigiriya. Large-scale research began in 1982, initiated by the government of Sri Lanka
Of course, today only ruins remain of the palace, but even these remnants of its former grandeur are impressive. In the western part of the palace complex there was a park with several swimming pools. Water was delivered to the top of the mountain using a system of mechanisms that has survived intact to this day.
The ancient castle built by Kasyapa remains on the top of the hill to this day, as do parts of the fortress. Despite its age, some of the decisions made by the palace builders are still striking in their ingenuity - the water storage tanks still hold water, and the moats and walls surrounding the palace are still elegant and beautiful.
Sigiriya Gardens is the most central part of this area as it is one of the most landscaped gardens in the world. The gardens are divided into three separate areas: water gardens, rock gardens, and terrace gardens.
The famous part of Sigiriya is the mirror wall. Originally, this wall was so well polished that the king could see himself while walking next to it. The wall is made of special porcelain, and is partially covered with poems scribbled by visitors to Lion Rock. The oldest of Sigiriya's poems date back to the 8th century. Many visitors wrote on the wall about love, irony and various events.
The entrance to the main part of the ancient city, that is, to the palace, was decorated with lion paws and was probably intended only for members of the royal dynasty. Originally, the entrance was the head of a lion, that is, to get into the palace, you had to go through the open mouth! Unfortunately, time has not been kind to such a unique gate...
One of the main tasks in organizing defense at such an impressive height was the task of collecting and storing water in the quantity and quality in which it was required by the king, army and servants. In the city, a double fortress moat was dug at the foot of the cliff; the city was filled with baths, ponds and fountains. At that time, the L-shaped pool system implemented in Sigiriya was a real engineering miracle! And even underground it was possible to organize pipes to supply water from the fortress moats to the distant ends of the city. The pipes were made from baked clay.
A mirrored corridor led to the royal chambers. This was once one of the most luxurious rooms of the Sigiriya Palace. There were several hundred frescoes here, most of which depicted half-naked women - the ruler’s concubines. It is worth noting that several frescoes have survived to this day.
The ancient clifftop temple was a gigantic art gallery, with frescoes covering most of the western slope of the cliff, covering an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. Now many of the frescoes of Sigiriya are lost forever, but the style of this painting is considered unique and inimitable. Sigiriya is the most valuable asset of Sri Lanka, therefore it is in the special account of the government.
Of course, the colors on them have faded, but you can still see the images on them. Researchers believe that natural paints based on beeswax and egg white were used to create these frescoes. This is what, according to scientists, gave the frescoes such durability.
In themselves, the pictures depicting girls on the ceilings in the rock at an altitude of about 100 meters are nothing more than cute drawings. Their quantity and quality of execution is surprising. At some point in Sigiriya's history, attempts were made to wash away the frescoes. Scientists are still arguing about who exactly is depicted on the frescoes: the queen with her servants or the girls mourning the death of the king with flowers or the heavenly nymphs that form part of the mythical stories of Sri Lanka. Now you can only see 21 girls, but traces left at different stages of painting the rock speak of 500 maidens painted on a section of rock 140 meters long!
The Lion Rock mountain offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area. From here, rice fields, forests and small lakes lie in full view. Once on this hill there was a royal pool along with a huge throne.
For a long time, the Sigiriya Palace was considered destroyed and lost somewhere in the forests, but in the middle of the 19th century it was discovered. A lot of restoration work was carried out here, which is still ongoing. The mountain palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is very popular among tourists. Thousands of travelers come here every year to see the ruins of the ancient palace with their own eyes!
Indeed, the history of Sigiriya is shrouded in numerous legends. In the fifth century AD, Kasapa (477-495), the eldest son of King Datusena (459-477), was supposed to inherit the throne, but his father decided in favor of his younger son Mogallan (Kasapa's mother was a concubine). Kasapa was inflamed with hatred of his father and imprisoned him, and in 477 he participated in his death. Mogallana was horrified by the terrible deeds of his elder brother and hid in South India. Fearing revenge, Kasapa decided to build a capital in an inaccessible place. And he chose the Sigiriya rock, 370 m high.
The king and his architects cleared the area around the rock and built a magnificent city surrounded by gardens with fountains and pools. They built the most amazing stairs in the world: the steps were carved between the paws, throat and jaws of an incredible size lion. The lion is the emblem of the state and a form of intimidation. The part of the rock above the lion's head was painted with images of Kasapa and his father Datusena. A citadel palace was built on the top of the rock. The quotation begins with the “platform of a lion”, of which only its paws remain. Steps lead to a 1.7 hectare terrace where the palace once stood. From the giant figure of a lion carved into the rock, whose mouth once served as the entrance to the fortress, only the paws have survived, but on the surface of the rock the most curious poetic inscriptions left by visitors to Sigiriya dating back to the 8th century are still preserved.
According to the description of travelers, the pediment of the palace, built of marble and surrounded by gardens and ponds, was lined with precious stones. The giant royal throne is well preserved. It is impossible not to be amazed at how the builders of those times lifted the necessary building materials onto the rock. Brick walls were erected along the edges of the cliff with narrow platforms for the sentries, where they could not sleep, risking falling. The stones on the rock were always ready in case of someone's invasion. One of them is still holding on, ready to fall.
Travelers also describe a gallery with frescoes and a “mirror wall” polished with mineral. Frescoes depicting a procession of princesses or palace ladies as if floating in the air, and covered with a composition of egg whites and wild bee honey, retained their bright colors.
Nobody knows who they are, perhaps just a figment of the artist’s imagination. They wore rich jewelry, tiaras supporting their hair, and flowers in their hands. Frescoes occupied the entire wall of the gallery. Unfortunately, out of 500 frescoes, only 18 have survived. The scratches on the “mirror wall” next to the gallery are simple poems dedicated to the beauty of these women.
The western and southern slopes are divided into terraces, where rooms for servants and guards were located. On the western slope, two flights of steps lead up to the cliff. One staircase runs next to a cave dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite, whose figurine was discovered here in the 12th century during the reign of King Parakramabahu. Noteworthy is a huge dismembered boulder, on one half of which a water tank is hollowed out. On the other, fallen half, there is a throne and a square platform, where perhaps the meetings of a member of the Council of Ministers took place.
According to another version, theatrical performances were held here. In the cave below the boulder, called the “cobra hood,” there are traces of ancient painting on the ceiling - a biography of Kasapa. Among the boulders around the rock, several places of a religious nature were discovered. The cave temple contains an undated torso of a Buddha statue, on which the monks practiced meditation. Preaching Rock, a huge boulder from which sermons were delivered, has a huge number of miniature niches where oil lamps were lit at noon...
During his 18 years of ruling from the top of a cliff, Kasapa imagined himself to be the master of the universe. Confident in his strength, he sent word to his brother, who had returned from India with an army, that he wanted to fight him on the plain. But the decision was made unsuccessfully. In the midst of the battle, Kasapa's elephant moved to a nearby pond to drink water. The army decided that the king was fleeing and began to retreat. Left alone, Kasapa cut his own throat. Mogallana destroyed the citadel, destroying traces of its former master, and, taking power into his own hands, restored the capital at Anurahapura.
Restoration work is currently underway. Based on literary evidence and archaeological excavations, there is another version of the purpose of Sigiriya. Meteorological data since 1895 indicate that the wind and rain of the two monsoons stopped field work for 8 months a year. February-March are the only months when construction work is possible in this region of the country.
Of the 18 years of Kasapa’s reign, only five years remain for construction, and this includes such colossal works as: clearing the area, transporting marble, making and firing bricks, hollowing out niches in the rock to secure the bricks, building a gallery and a “mirror wall”, preparing the surface of the rock for painting, working on top of a rock, not to mention building around the rock itself. Even if we imagine that thousands of workers were involved, it is almost impossible to complete all this enormous work in such a short time.
The palace theory also does not stand up to criticism. During excavations at the top of the rock, a rectangular platform measuring 13 x 7 m was discovered, which was unconditionally recognized as the Kasapa palace. But if this is a palace, then why are there no traces of the presence of rooms, a toilet, columns, or recesses for columns? No remains of a tiled roof were found, but a vessel in which the relics were kept was found. How could a tiled roof withstand the pressure of monsoon winds and rains? A giant stone-hewn throne to the south of the platform and at a lower level is the only structure on the summit that shows evidence of a once-existing roof (or canopy), protected by a vertically rising stone wall. In 1833, a stupa that existed at the beginning of this century was discovered on the top; this place is now marked with pegs. Archaeologists have discovered at least 2 construction periods at the top of the cliff and 5 at the base. If the palace and gardens of Sigiriya are the work of Kasapa, then who is responsible for the remaining 4 periods of construction activity?
The ruling monarchs were the patrons of the faith. The order of monks enjoyed great privileges in the form of royal subsidies, prestige and patronage. Archaeological excavations confirm that already in the 2nd century. BC there was a large monastic complex here, as evidenced by the presence of a large number of cave temples on the western and northern slopes (excavations have not yet been carried out on the southern and eastern slopes). Inscriptions from the 2nd century AD were discovered in one of the caves. Taking this into account, one cannot even imagine that Kasapa, in a difficult situation for himself, would decide to enter into conflict with the monks just to build a palace on the top of a cliff. The presence of an army on the territory of the monastery is also impossible. On the contrary, the king, army and population had to in every possible way support and protect the guardians of the Buddha's teachings, which Kasapa did. Kasapa could not chop the branch on which he was sitting. During this period of time, the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the relic itself (a symbol of royal power) were located in Anuradhapura, where the government was also located. In Anuradhapura, Kasapa built several temples, including the Kasub-Bo-Upulvan temple (in honor of the god Vishnu). All these facts indicate that Kasapa visited Sigiriya, but could not live there.
This rock was also covered in gardens, including terraced ones. Artificial water pools are everywhere - from bottom to top. And the entire water engineering system is capable of operating even now. It’s not always clear what it’s like inside, in the rock, but it works. From the outside you can only see the cut drains to drain water; they are in all the caves along the road.
It is unlikely that the construction work of Kasapa in Sigiriya, the patron saint of the Mahayana sect (the liberal direction of Buddhism), could have received approval in the Mahavamsa chronicles, which describe mainly the history of Buddhism and the relations of the ruling monarchs with the church, from which we learn the history of Sigiriya and which were written in the 13th century by the Theravada sect (the teaching of the elders is the orthodox branch of Buddhism). The gap of seven centuries between events and their recording was to the advantage of the chroniclers: it is much more convenient to distort real events and misrepresent Kasapa as a mad genius than to glorify his adherence to a hostile branch of Buddhism. The Theravada movement denies the existence of savior gods, whose main mission is to alleviate our suffering in this life.
The meaning of Sigiriya painting can only be understood when the purpose of the complex itself is clear. Typically, painting fulfills a certain role: decorative (such as a wallpaper), or it tries to have an impact, to convey a specific idea that is not necessarily understandable to mere mortals. Considering that the complex is the center of the Mahayana sect, it is not difficult to guess who is depicted in the murals. One of the most respected and revered goddesses of the Mahayana sect is the goddess Tara, the star, the mother of all Buddhas. But why are there so many images of the same person on the Sigiriya rock? Repetition, a very popular mode of expression in Buddhist art, conveys the magical power of the deity not through colossal size, but through repeated repetition, a feeling of infinity. Examples of this were found in India, Central Asia, China, Indonesia, and Burma.
One such example in Sri Lanka is the Dambulla Cave Temple. Inscriptions on the "mirror wall", left mainly by visitors from the 8th to 10th centuries, refer to the place as Sihigiri - the Rock of Remembrance. And the chronicles of the 13th century Mahavamsa call the rock Sihigiri - Lion's Rock. Believers, climbing to the gallery, to the “lion platform” and finally to the top of the rock, constantly saw the image of the goddess Tara before their eyes.
By visually representing the goddess and worshiping her, believers hoped that Tara would ease their suffering and show the way to salvation. Sigiriya is a reminder to believers of Tara, hence the name Rock of Remembrance. The call to meditation is the meaning of the painting of Sigiriya, whose patron was the goddess Tara.
According to eyewitnesses of the 19th century, the steps, starting from the “lion platform,” were decorated with sculptures of lions. Examples of the identification of the goddess Tara with a roaring lion are found in India (Ghost, M - Development of Buddhist iconography in eastern India: 1980). Over time, Tara was forgotten by ordinary people. This is evidenced by the fact that visitors of the 10th century and later no longer mentioned Tara, but identified the women in the frescoes with the wives of Kasapa, which was encouraged by the propaganda of the Theravada sect.
Considering the above facts, we can conclude: Sigiriya has never been either a capital or a fortress. It was an aesthetically designed monastic complex of the Mahayana Buddhist sect for over 20 centuries. It was easier to lead a righteous life surrounded by beautiful scenery and a favorable climate. Powerful ramparts with ditches drained excess rainwater beyond the territory of the monastery, which otherwise would have been subject to flooding. The so-called palace was nothing more than an open hall for meditation, and the flowering gardens and ponds created an ideal setting for this. Reservoirs with water for ritual ablutions and decorative purposes are not an exclusive phenomenon in Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Among the most remarkable aspects of Sigiriya's urban design are its mathematically based planning and absolute clarity of design. The city plan is based on a precise square module. All buildings and structures are located strictly in relation to the center of coordinates - the palace complex on the top of the cliff. The eastern and western entrances clearly correspond to the east-west axis. The royal water gardens, moats and ramparts of the western zone are based on an 'echo' or 'mirror' plan, which duplicates the layout on both sides between north and south from east to west. In its complete concept, Sigiriya is a brilliant combination of symmetry and asymmetry in a block of geometric planning and natural form.
Often, when there is low cloudiness at the top, there is an extraordinary effect when a cloud lies on the top of a rock and people wander waist-deep in white clouds. It feels like you are walking on heaven. This unusual effect shocks even experienced travelers.
For a very long time, the Sigiriya fortress was known only from legends. They thought that she no longer existed. However, in the middle of the 19th century, the ruins of this great structure were discovered. Now active work is underway to restore Sigiriya. The monument is under UNESCO protection.
Today, Sri Lanka and the summit of Sigiriya are incredibly popular: every year thousands of people from all over the world come here to look at one of the wonders of antiquity, which has survived to this day.
