Sigiriya - Sri Lanka. Travel stories of the cat Mount Sigiriya
Those who have already bought tickets to Sri Lanka or are just planning to go there should learn more about the attractions of the island. The most central point of the country, geographically and historically, is the rock Sigiriya Sri Lanka. It really is located in the very center of the island, rising above the ground by 170 meters(370 above sea level). It is worth noting that UNESCO (a world organization) has included Sigiriya of Sri Lanka in the list of world heritage sites. And not in vain, the plateau really has a majestic appearance, its steep rocky walls have a unique natural pattern of layers of marble of various colors.
The uniqueness of the Sigiriya rock
But in addition to natural beauty, Sigiriya also has historical cultural value. In order to enjoy it, you need to climb the steep stairs to the very top. To make the climb easier, you should stock up on a bottle of water, a Panama hat, comfortable clothes, shoes, and optimism. It is worth going on this excursion in the morning, when the sun is not so hot. The place is very popular, elderly people and children go up there, so it won’t be too difficult for an adult without severe lung or cardiovascular diseases to climb. You also need to take into account the strong wind when climbing. If you doubt your abilities, you can hire assistant in about one thousand rupees. Moreover, the climb is not boring in itself. Along the way you can look into caves with unique wall paintings that are about a thousand years old, take a photo at a height against the backdrop of the surrounding beauty of the island (there is a lot of greenery and waterfalls around). Halfway up the climb, tourists admire mirror wall. The ascent takes about two hours. The excursion is paid, for adults this pleasure will cost about 30 dollars, children - half as much. For contrast - locals enjoy Sigiriya in Sri Lanka for about 40 cents. But for tourists, the result justifies the means, and it’s a must to see this great wonder of the world with your own eyes.
History of the Sigiriya Rock
Another name for the rock is lion fortress. The son of the ancient king Datusena, Kassapa, after the murder of his father and fearing his brother's revenge, decided to build himself an impregnable palace in the form of a lion. Today you can clearly see the paws of massive stone blocks before the start of the climb to the top. Based on the surviving records of travelers of the distant past, one can imagine the majestic beauty of the palace - facade made of precious stones, five thousand frescoes, depicting beautiful maidens (today only 18 have survived thanks to the coating of protein and honey). Nowadays, craftsmen restore lost works. The throne room, the throne itself, and the king’s pool have also been preserved. You can also take photos at the top with trained monkeys. It’s not worth buying souvenirs on the mountain or at the foot; the price is sometimes up to ten times higher.
How to get to Sigiriya
Get to Sigiriya from Colombo ( 169 km.) can be done in four hours by car or by bus number 47 from the central bus station. The bus will take you to the city Dambulla, where you can transfer to any bus to Sigiriya. Alternatively, you can come to the village at the foot of the cliff and stay overnight; housing can be found without problems, then getting up in the morning will be easier.
Photo report about how I went to the Sigiriya rock in Sri Lanka.
I give a link to VKontakte album, if anyone wants to view it in a larger size, or download the original photo.
Such beautiful flowers grow in this castle. 
Lotus is beautiful. 
Monkeys guard the entrance to the castle grounds. 
In fact, it used to be a moat, but now flowers grow there. 
Are you tired of flowers yet? 
Tired of it? Then let's get back to the monkeys. 
Or is it still flowers? 
There were a lot of flowers there even during the king’s lifetime. And in general, he loved beauty, since he had 500 (five hundred) concubines. Some of them are depicted on the frescoes that will follow. 
Me and my wife. She is my best. 
Notice the whistle between the monkey's legs. 
Monkeys are cool. 
The entire area is surrounded by a moat and there are many swimming pools inside. According to legend, the king loved to swim. Or wash after working with concubines. 
Probably everyone has such a photo. 
Trees inside the castle. 
Having walked through the interior of the castle, we began to climb. 
Masha is unhappy; perhaps she shouldn’t have been loaded with two bottles of water. 
The passage between two stones looks epic. 
How many steps do you think there are? 
You can try to guess, and the answer will be a little lower. 
View from about a third of the way up. 
There are huge hives all over the rock, so if you talk too much you will get stung by killer bees. 
The view is really cool and it's not even the top yet. 
Selfie-kiss, our guide in the background. 
The long-awaited concubines by all. They are also called the heavenly maidens of Sigiriya. 
According to legend, when the monks received this rock at their disposal, they were unable to pray here because they were distracted by indecent frescoes. 
Not much has been preserved, they are afraid to restore it, so go and see it with your own eyes. 
Interesting size of concubines' breasts. The king apparently respected only sizes from 3rd. 
View from the middle of the climb. 
Part of the garden we walked through about 20 minutes ago. 
To say that it is very scary there is the same as saying nothing - there Holy shit how scary. 
Lakes are visible somewhere in the distance. 
Description of the lion's paws - the entrance to the castle on the Sigiriya rock. 
Previously there was also a lion's head. 
But it collapsed over time. The entrance to the castle was through the lion's throat. 
This is not the right angle, but the steps are very dangerous. For me this was the scariest part of the climb. The whole joke is that the wind just blows away. 
If you look closely, you can see that there used to be something near the rock, but it fell off. 
Our group says hello to everyone. 
Finally we reached the top. 
The view from the top is very good. But of course my camera doesn’t convey all the beauty. 
It's time to fool around. 
Notice the step? So this is the 1202nd. If you count it, climbing this rock is equivalent to climbing a 60-story building. 
Handstand performed by me. 
And the spider in Masinoy. 
After yoga you should definitely kiss. 
There are quite a lot of buildings on the rock itself. There was even a dance hall there. 
Everything is slowly falling apart. Pay attention to the steps that hold up the wall. 
Height 363 meters above sea level. And about 170 from the ground. 
Great selfie, put it on your profile picture? 
Masha decided to stop the excursion and begged. By the way, the climb costs about 500 rubles (per person), which is very expensive in local money. We gave the guide the same amount. 
There are a few more buildings at the foot of the cliff, this is the audience hall. 
And its description. 
The king rested here after making important decisions in the meeting room. 
Brick is made from clay. 
There were only three passages to the rock and one of them was guarded by a snake. 
Cobra to be exact. 
And already a standard passage in the form of two stones. 
On the descent we were offered juices. Prices are very small; to convert to rubles, divide by 3.8. Fresh mango juice for 300 rupees, that is, 78 rubles. In my opinion it's wildly cheap. 
The dog also wanted juice, but we didn’t give it. 
Manya is pleased with the wonderful excursion, juice and purchase of a wooden tuk-tuk. 
Please ask your questions in the comments. I hope you enjoyed it!
High quality, 100% cotton: Polish fabrics online store in Moscow.
Sigiriya, or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock), is an ancient mountain fortress located in the central part of the administrative district of Matale near the city (Dambulla) in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. This name is given to an area of great historical and archaeological significance, over which rises a massive rock column about 200 m high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle Culavamsa, this place was chosen by King Kasyapa (477-495 AD) to build their capital. On the top of this rock, he erected his palace and decorated its perimeter with colorful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway to the top, he built a gate in the shape of a giant lion. It was this structure that gave the name to the whole place - Sinhagiri - Lion Rock. After the death of the king, the capital and palace were abandoned. Until the 14th century there was a Buddhist monastery here.
Sigiriya is now a UNESCO cultural heritage site. This is one of the best surviving examples of urban development from ancient times.
History of Sigiriya
According to the Kulavamsa chronicle, Kashyapa was the son of King Datusena. Kashyapa kills his father by walling him up alive and seizes his throne, which rightfully belongs to his brother Mugalan, Datusena's son from the rightful queen. Mogallana is forced to flee to India to avoid being killed by Kashyapa, but vows revenge. In India, he gathers an army to return and take away the throne of Sri Lanka, which he considers rightfully his. Knowing that Mogallana will definitely return, Kashyapa builds a palace on the top of Sigiriya, turning it into a fortress and a place of entertainment. Finally, Mogallana returns and declares war. During the battle, Kashyapa's army abandons their king, and he commits suicide by throwing himself on his sword.
Kulavamsa and folk tales narrate that Kashyapa's war elephant changed direction to take a strategically advantageous position, but the army misunderstood his maneuver and thought that the king had decided to retreat, which forced the entire army to abandon their king. The chronicle says that he was too proud to give up, so he pulled the dagger from the sheath hanging on his belt, cut his throat, proudly raised the dagger, sheathed it and fell dead. Mogallana returned the capital to Anuradhapura, turning Sigiriya into a monastic complex.
There is an alternative story according to which King Datusena is considered the original founder of Sigiriya, and Kashyapa completed the construction in honor of his father. In some stories, Kashyapa appears as a rake king, and Sigiriya was his pleasure palace. Opinions differ even regarding the eventful life of Kashyapa. Some sources say that he was poisoned by his mistress, others that he cut his own throat, left alone during the decisive battle. However, all further versions agree that Sigiriya became a Buddhist monastery and was no longer used for military purposes. She may have played an important role in the rivalry between the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhist traditions in ancient Sri Lanka.
The earliest evidence of human presence in Sigiriya was found in the Aligala rock grotto to the east of Sigiriya Rock, suggesting that the area was inhabited around five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic period.
During the 3rd century BC. settlements of Buddhist monks arose on the western and northern slopes of the rocky hills surrounding Sigiriya. Several mountain grottoes, or caves, were built during this period. These grottoes were created under large boulders, and drains were cut out near the entrance to the cave. On many grottoes, near the drains, carved inscriptions are found, indicating that these caves were given to the Buddhist monastic community as dwellings. Such grottoes date back to the 3rd century BC. – 1st century AD
Archaeological remains and their features
In 1831, Major Jonathan Forbes of the 78th Scottish Regiment of the British Army, returning on horseback from a trip to Polonnaruwa, discovered the “bush-covered peak of Sigiriya.” Sigiriya attracted the attention of antiquities collectors and, later, archaeologists. Archaeological excavations on a small scale began in Sigiriya in the 1890s. G. C. P. Bell became the first archaeologist to conduct a comprehensive study of Sigiriya. As part of the Cultural Triangle Project, initiated by the Government of Sri Lanka, significant attention has been paid to Sigiriya since 1982. For the first time, full-scale archaeological work throughout the city was started precisely thanks to this project. The entrance was guarded by the head and paws of a lion, but the head fell many years ago.
Sigiriya consists of an ancient citadel built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century. The archaeological site of Sigiriya includes the ruins of an upper palace perched on a flat rock top, a mid-level terrace including the Lion Gate and a frescoed mirror wall, lower palaces hidden behind the lush gardens of the lower level, and the moats and ramparts that protected the citadel. Sigiriya was both a palace and a fortress. On the territory of the upper palace on the top of the rock there are reservoirs carved into the rock. The moats and walls surrounding the lower palaces are extremely beautiful.
City plan
Sigiriya is considered one of the most striking examples of urban development of the first millennium, and the city plan appears to be extremely elaborate and varied. This plan combines the concepts of symmetry and asymmetry, used to artfully intertwine man-made geometric shapes and the natural contours of the surrounding area. On the western slope of the rock there is a park for the royal family, laid out according to a symmetrical plan; The park contains water retaining structures, including complex above-ground/underground hydraulic systems, some of which are still functional. On the southern slope there is an artificial reservoir; it was actively used during the time of the previous capital, located in the dry belt of Sri Lanka. The entrances were blocked by five gates. It is believed that only members of the royal family could use the western, most ornate, gate.
In 1907, John Still suggested that "the whole surface of the hill looks as if it were a gigantic picture gallery...perhaps the largest in the world." Apparently, the images covered most of the western slope of the rock - a surface 140 m long and 40 m high. According to some reports, 500 girls were depicted in these drawings. However, most of these frescoes are lost forever. Some frescoes, different from the images on the cliffside, can be seen in other places, for example, on the ceiling of the room called "Cave of the Cobra Hood".
Although the murals are classified as works from the Anuradhapura period, the painting style is considered unique: the lines and painting style of the paintings are different from the Anuradhapura murals. The lines are displayed in such a way that the figures appear more voluminous. The paint was applied in sweeping strokes with greater pressure on one side, thereby creating the effect of a more saturated color closer to the edges. Other images from the Anuradhapura period used the same drawing technique, but they lack the contour lines used in the Sigiriya style, which are a characteristic artistic technique. The identities of the girls depicted in the frescoes are still unknown. There are different points of view on this matter. Some believe that these are ladies of the court, while others believe that these girls took part in religious rites. These frescoes are very reminiscent of the images found in the Ajanta Caves in India.
Mirror wall and spiral staircase leading to the frescoes
Previously, this wall was polished so carefully that the king, walking along it, could see his own reflection. This wall is made of brickwork, covered with white plaster polished to a mirror shine. Now this wall is partially covered with poems carved by travelers who visited the rock. Inscriptions dating back to the 8th century were found on the wall. People left messages of a very different nature on the wall: love, ironic and other poems. Now it is forbidden to write on the wall in order to protect the old inscriptions.
Dr. Senerat Paranavitana, a prominent Sri Lankan archaeologist, deciphered 685 verses written on a mirror wall in the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries AD.
One of them was translated into Sinhala something like this:
“I am Budal [the name of the writer]. Came with a hundred people to see Sigiriya. Since everyone else was writing poems, I didn’t do it!”
He left important information that travelers had been visiting Sigiriya for a long time.
Sigiriya Gardens
The Sigiriya Gardens are one of the most important features of the city as they are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. These gardens are divided into three distinct but interrelated forms: water gardens, cave and rock gardens, and terrace gardens.
Water gardens
Water gardens are found in the central part of the western site. There are three main gardens there. The first garden is a piece of land surrounded by water. It is connected to the main territory through four dams with gates located at the beginning of each of them. This garden was built according to the ancient model of gardening called "char bagh" and is one of the oldest examples of such construction that has survived to this day.
In the second garden, there are deep pools on both sides of the road. Two small, serpentine streams flow into these pools. There are fountains made of round limestone plates. Underground aqueducts supply water to these fountains, which are still in operation, especially during the rainy season. On both sides of the second water garden there are two large islands. Summer palaces were built on the leveled surface of these islands. Further north and south are two more islands. These islands are built in the same style as the island of the first water garden.
Sigiriya Gardens - view from the top of Sigiriya Rock
The third garden is located above the first two. It consists of a large octagonal basin with a raised platform at the north-east corner. A large citadel wall, made of bricks and stones, runs along the eastern border of the garden.
The water gardens are built symmetrically around the east-west axis. They are connected to an outer moat to the west and a large artificial lake to the south by the Sigiriya cliff. In addition, all the pools are connected to each other through a network of underground pipelines, fed by the lake and also connected to the moat. To the west of the first water garden is a miniature water garden consisting of several small pools and canals. This newly discovered garden was probably built after the reign of Kashyapa, perhaps between the 10th and 13th centuries.
Stone gardens
The rock gardens consist of several large boulders connected by winding paths. Such gardens extend at the foot of the Sigiriya rock from the northern to the southern slopes. On top of most boulders is a building or pavilion; Slots were made in them, which were used as a base for brick walls and ceilings. When the enemy approached, such stones were pushed off the cliff onto the attacking armies.
Terraced gardens
The terrace gardens are formed by a natural rise at the base of the Sigiriya cliff. Several terraces lead from the paths in the stone gardens to the stairs in the rock. They were created using brick walls and are located around the rock in a concentric pattern. The route through the terraced gardens is a limestone staircase. From this staircase there is a covered road leading along the edge of the cliff to the highest terrace, on which the lion's staircase is located.
Map of Sigiriya and surrounding areas
Sigiriya Photos
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Sigiriya, which means in Senegalese Lion Rock is a ruined ancient fortress located in the mountains, which still preserves the remains of palace buildings. It is located in the center of the island of Sri Lanka. The remains of the fortress are surrounded, unfortunately, also by the remains of a once extensive network of pools, gardens, and other structures. This destination is very popular among tourists coming to Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient frescoes.
Enlarged map (Google maps)
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Mount Sigiriya on Google maps.
The Sigiriya Rock rises above the surrounding plain and is visible for many miles from different directions. Its base is a steep rock, which is formed from the magma of an extinct volcano that has long since begun to collapse. The height is 370 meters above sea level.
Aerial view of Sigiriya:
Sigiriya was inhabited in prehistoric times and was already used as a mountain monastery-refuge. It is believed that caves and monasteries appeared here around the 5th century BC. And the palace and garden were built during the reign of King Kasapa I (477 - 495 AD).
Only after the death of the king did this place again begin to function as a monastery and existed in this status until the 14th century, after which, for unknown reasons, it was abandoned. Further, right up to the 17th century, all mentions of Sigiriya disappeared and appeared again after the 17th century. But now this area is no longer called Sigiriya, but the Kingdom of Kandy. But, as if by magic, with the end of Kandy's rule, people leave Lion Rock again.
Archaeologists began their work here in the 1890s. The first archaeologist to conduct extensive research around Sigiriya was Bell. The Sri Lankan government began larger studies already in 1982.
Sigiriya has become one of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka. We tried to collect more information about this unique place, and we invite you to take an excursion into the history of Sigiriya, at the same time, and appreciate its beauty.
What is the history of the fortress-monastery on Mount Sigiriya?
The very first mentions of Sigiriya go back to ancient times. The scriptures that date back to the period BC say that the fortress-monastery was built from pure gold, and the architect was the great Vishvakarman. Brahma gave it to the deity of wealth - Kubera. But very little time passed and the rakshasa demons, whose ruler was the ten-headed monster Ravana, captured the island. For his pleasure, Ravana kidnapped the beautiful wife of the princes of Rama. Freeing his wife, Rama destroyed Ravana and began to happily rule Sigiriya.
A later version of the origin of Sigiriya takes us to the 5th century AD. King Datusen, who reigned in these places at that time, had two sons. The eldest was called Kassapa, and the youngest was Mogallan. Kassapa killed his own father in order to seize power, since the father wanted to give the throne to his youngest son. Mogallan managed to survive by leaving for India. Kassapa, who was left without competitors for the royal throne, calmed down and began to develop the territory he had acquired at such a terrible price. However, fear remained in his heart and, as it turned out later, not without reason. Driven by fear, Kassapa moves the capital of his kingdom from the plain to Mount Sigiriya, which was famous for its height and steep slopes. In a word, Sigiriya is very convenient when you need to hold the defense.
18 years pass. During this time, King Kassapa created a luxurious palace on the impregnable fortress, and planted many beautiful and cozy gardens under the rock. In these gardens, archaeologists believe that the first fountains on Earth were built. Kassapa relaxed and imagined himself to be the god of wealth. He spent all his time in entertainment.
Mogallan, being in exile and driven by the desire to avenge the death of his father and his flight, devoted all his time to improving his military abilities and gathering an army. He understood that the fight would be difficult and waited until he got stronger.
And then the long-awaited day for Mogallan came. His army and Kassapa's army met on the plain near Sigiriya. The battle went on for a long time and no one could predict the result of the battle. The advantage was alternately on the side of one brother, then on the side of the other. The outcome was determined by a simple accident - in the midst of the battle, Kassapa's elephant, tormented by thirst, leaves the battlefield and goes to a watering hole. The army perceives this “maneuver” as the flight of King Kassapa and, in a hurry, also leaves the battlefield. Just like that - the thirst of one elephant determined the outcome of the battle. Kassapa's army fled, and he decided not to surrender alive into the hands of his brother and cut his own throat. Mogallan, having avenged his father's death, regains both the kingdom and the crown. The capital also returns to its rightful place - Anuradhapura. The palace on the rock, as a memory of the terrible past, is subject to destruction by order of the winner.
Sights of Sigiriya.
I don’t know how to explain it, but despite the order to destroy everything, many elements of the buildings and even the entire structure have survived to this day. Tourists will find a lot of interesting things here.
So from a huge lion carved into the rock, whose mouth was once the entrance to the fortress, only its paws have been preserved. The throne of King Kassapa was preserved, sitting on which he enjoyed the dances of his concubines. Many architectural solutions of the palace builders, despite their age, amaze with their ingenuity. The moat and walls surrounding the palace have retained their former elegance and beauty; cisterns for saving water still hold it.
King's throne:
Lion Paws:
View from the mountain to the surrounding gardens:
Climbing Sigiriya:
In the ruined palace:
One of the main attractions of Sigiriya is the mirror wall. During the time of King Kassapa, it was so polished that the king, passing by, saw his reflection. The wall is made of a special type of porcelain. Part of it today is “decorated” with inscriptions and poems left by visitors to Lion Rock. The oldest inscriptions date back to the eighth century. Nowadays, “painting” walls is prohibited.
Mirror Rock:
Sigiriya is one of the most visited attractions in Sri Lanka. Even the extortionate entrance fee does not stop the huge flow of tourists. Lion Rock has no analogues not only in Ceylon, but probably in all of Asia, so for many travelers the ancient city is a must see.
We also took the time to make the difficult journey across the entire island and in this article we will share practical information: what to see, how to get to Sigiriya, where to stay for the night.
What is Sigiriya
As a legend as old as the world says - in the 5th century. a certain king Datusen decided to leave the throne to his beloved youngest son Mogallan. Kasap's eldest son did not agree with his father's decision, so he imprisoned the old man and then killed him. Fearing that his brother’s wrath would overtake him, Mogallan went on the run.
Do you think that Kasapa began to live happily ever after? No matter how it is! He lived in fear and worried that one day his brother would return for revenge. Fearing for his life, Kasapa built the impregnable city of Sigiriya, and erected a huge palace on a rocky plateau.
Despite the fact that only ruins remain from its former grandeur, you can still see some functional solutions. For example, pools on a rocky plateau that still hold water, moats around the palace complex and huge terraces with gardens.
According to historians, many centuries ago Sigiriya was a luxurious palace complex with fountains, gardens, a large art gallery and subjects.
From the western slope you can still see the remains of ancient frescoes.
In this story, good defeated evil. Years passed, Mogallan gathered an army, overthrew his brother and destroyed his palace. After the death of Kasapa, Sigiriya continued to exist until the 14th century, but as a Buddhist monastery. Since 1982 The ancient complex is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
How to get to Sigiriya
Given the lack of good roads, trains are perhaps the most convenient way to travel.
When traveling to Sigiriya from Colombo, you will need to make two transfers.
- The first is in, since there is no railway in Sigiriya. Trains Colombo - Kandy depart every 1-2 hours, schedule can be found view here. The journey takes approximately 4 hours. The fare for second class carriages is $2.
Sri Lankans do not distinguish between second and third class, but go into the carriage they like. Paying for second class travel will not make your trip any more comfortable. The exception is first class; entry into such carriages is strictly based on tickets that indicate the seat.
- In Kandy you need to change to a bus that goes to the town of Dambula. The fare costs $1. The journey will take approximately 2 hours. Departure from the railway station.
From Dambula to Lion's Rock it is already a stone's throw, only 20 km. This distance can be covered by bus (runs about once an hour) or by tuk-tuk.
There are also direct buses from Colombo to Dambula, but we didn’t dare take them.
- Firstly, the roads in Sri Lanka are absolutely terrible;
- Secondly, the buses are too old and unreliable, and the drivers consider themselves skilled racers;
- Thirdly, public transport in Sri Lanka is constantly crowded, and you risk riding while standing.
Sigiriya is the most expensive attraction in Sri Lanka. Entrance for tourists costs $30 (3900 rupees), and for locals only $1. To be honest, I don’t even remember in what other country we paid so much for entry. But what can you do, there are no workarounds! Control is carried out in several places, so it is unlikely that you will be able to sneak through. Even if you slipped into the territory of the complex, you will not be able to climb the plateau without a ticket.
Opening hours: daily, 08.30 – 17.30
- The climb to the plateau is quite difficult, try not to take a lot of things with you;
- Due to high temperatures, the best time to visit is early morning;
- Do not forget about hats and sunscreen; on the plateau you will be in direct sunlight;
- I recommend taking water with you. After passing the control, nothing is sold;
- There are no toilets on the plateau, so take care of this in advance;
- If you want to save money, you can buy one ticket for two and take turns going inside. Yes, it will take a very long time, but it will be cheaper;
Accommodation in Sigiriya Sri Lanka
There will be no problems with housing in Sigiriya, but prices, as elsewhere in Sri Lanka, start from $25 per room. There are a lot of guesthouses and hotels in the area; you can arrange an overnight stay while already in Sigiriya, or book a room online. According to my observations, the price on the website is practically no different from the one quoted locally.
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, this 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.