Sigiriya Rock Fortress
One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic historical monuments, Sigiriya is an ancient palace and fortress built on a rocky plateau 370 meters above sea level. This magnificent complex includes remnants of a palace on the top of the rock plateau surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, vast landscaped gardens, ponds, canals, alley ways and fountains. Thought to have been built by King Kashyapa during 477 – 495 A.D as a fortress and royal residence, Sigiriya was used as a Buddhist monastery after his passing.
The main entrance to the ancient palace was designed in the form of a huge stone lion, whose feet have survived to date, the existence of this lion form led to the name Sigiriya, from the local term or Sihagiri or lion rock. Other significant attractions of this site include a wall covered in ancient frescoes and a mirror wall with ancient inscriptions and poems dating back to the 8th century.
The construction of a grand palace 200 meters above the surrounding landscape and the complex hydraulic system found in the surrounding gardens consisting of canals, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains, as well as surface and underground water pumps lay credence to the architectural and engineering prowess of the creators of this magnificent site. An epitome of ancient urban planning, this site was declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1982.
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