Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) is a single rock 170 m high and a fortress built on it in the Matale district, in the central part of the country.

A castle was built on the top of the mountain, the walls of which were painted with unique frescoes. Some of the latter have survived to this day. Halfway to the top there is a plateau where arrivals are greeted by a huge gate in the shape of a lion's paws. According to one version, the fortress was built at the request of King Kassap (Kasyapa), and after his death the palace was empty and stood abandoned. Until the 14th century, a Buddhist monastery functioned on the territory of Sigiriya. Today the attraction is included in the list world heritage UNESCO and is under its protection.

Sigiriya is a unique attraction

According to archaeological excavations, in the area adjacent to the mountain, people lived in the prehistoric period. Numerous grottoes and caves are proof of this.



In 477, Kasyapa, born a commoner to a king, forcibly took the throne from the rightful heir Datusena, enlisting the support of the commander-in-chief of the army. The heir to the throne, Mugalan, was forced to hide in India to save his own life. Having seized the throne, Kasyapa decided to move the capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya, where it was calm and quiet. This measure was forced, since the self-proclaimed king was afraid that he would be overthrown by the one to whom the throne belonged by right of birth. After these events, Sigiriya became a real urban complex, with well-designed architecture, protective structures, fortress and gardens.

In 495, the illegitimate monarch was overthrown, and the capital returned to Anuradhapura. And on the top of the Sigiriya rock, Buddhist monks settled for many years. The monastery functioned until the 14th century. No information has been found about Sigiriya from the 14th to 17th centuries.

Legends and myths

According to one legend, Kassapa, wanting to take the throne, killed his own father by walling him alive in the wall of a dam. Kasyapa's brother Mugalan, born from the queen, left the country, but swore an oath of revenge. In South India, Mugalan gathered an army and, upon returning to Sri Lanka, declared war on his illegitimate brother. During the struggle, the army betrayed Kassapa, and he, realizing the hopelessness of his situation, committed suicide.

There is a version that the army did not intentionally abandon its leader. During the next battle, Kasyapa's elephant unexpectedly turned in the other direction. The soldiers took the maneuver as the king’s decision to flee and began to retreat. Kassapa, left alone, but being proud and unyielding, pulled out a sword and cut his throat.

Archaeological excavations and amazing finds


Sigiriya (Lion Rock) was discovered by Jonathan Forbes, a British soldier, in 1831. At that time, the top of the mountain was heavily overgrown with bushes, but immediately attracted the attention of archaeologists and historians.

The first excavations began 60 years later in 1890. Full-scale excavations were carried out as part of the Sri Lankan government's Cultural Triangle Project.


Sigiriya is an ancient citadel built in the 5th century. Historical and archaeological area comprises:

  • palace on top of Lion Rock;
  • terraces and gates, which are located approximately in the center of the mountain;
  • a mirror wall decorated with frescoes;
  • the lower palaces, which are hidden behind lush gardens;
  • fortress moats performing a protective function.

Photo: Sigiriya rock, Sri Lanka

Archaeologists note that the Sigiriya (Lion Rock) fortress in Sri Lanka is one of the most striking buildings in the world, which dates back to the 1st millennium and is relatively well preserved. The city plan surprises with incredible diversity and exceptional thoughtfulness for that time. In accordance with the plan, the city harmoniously combines symmetry and asymmetry; man-made buildings are skillfully woven into the surrounding landscape without disturbing it at all. In the western part of the mountain there is a royal park, which was created according to a strict symmetrical plan. To water the plants in the park area, a complex technical network of hydraulic structures and mechanisms has been created. In the southern part of the rock there is an artificial water reservoir; it was used very actively, since Mount Sigiriya is located in the arid part.

Frescoes

The western slope of Lion Rock is unique phenomenon– it is almost completely covered with ancient frescoes. That is why the surface of the hill is called a giant art gallery.


In the past, the paintings covered the entire slope on the western side, which is a surface area of ​​5,600 square meters. According to one version, 500 girls were depicted on the frescoes. Their identity has not been established; different sources contain different assumptions. Some believe that the frescoes depict images of court ladies, others believe that these are girls who took part in religious rites. Unfortunately, most of the drawings have been lost.

Mirror wall and path to the frescoes


During the reign of Kasyapa, the wall was regularly polished so that the monarch, walking along it, could see his own reflection. The wall is made of brick and covered with white plaster. The modern version of the wall is partially covered with various poems and messages. There are also inscriptions on the wall of Lion Rock that date back to the 8th century. Now it is impossible to leave a message on the wall; the ban was introduced to protect the ancient inscriptions.

Sigiriya Gardens

This is one of the main features of Sigiriya, as the gardens are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the whole world. The garden complex consists of three parts.

Water gardens


They can be found in the western part of Lion Rock. There are three gardens here.

  • The first garden is surrounded by water and connected to the territory of the palace and fortress complex through 4 dams. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was designed according to the oldest model and there are very, very few analogues that have survived to this day.
  • The second garden is surrounded by pools into which streams flow. There are fountains in the shape of round bowls, they are filled by an underground hydraulic system. During the rainy season, the fountains work. On both sides of the garden there are islands where summer palace residences were built.
  • The third garden is located above the first two. In its northeastern part there is a large octagonal pool. In the eastern part of the garden there is a fortress wall.

These are huge boulders with walking paths between them. Stone gardens can be found at the foot of Lion Mountain, along the slopes. The stones are so large that buildings have been built on most of them. They also performed a defensive function - when enemies attacked, they were pushed down onto the attackers.

Terraced gardens


These are terraces around a rock on natural elevations. They partly consist of brick walls. You can get from one garden to another via a limestone staircase, from which there is a road to the highest terrace of Sigiriya Castle in Sri Lanka.

How to get there


You can go to the attraction from any city on the island, but you will have to change trains in Dambulla. Bus routes No. 549/499 depart regularly from Dambulla to Sigiriya. Flights depart from 6-00 to 19-00. The journey takes only 40 minutes.

Possible routes to Sigiriya


Entrance fee:

  • adult – 4500 rupees, approximately $30;
  • for children – 2250 rupees, about $15.

For children under 6 years old admission is free.

Rock palace the complex is working from 7-00 to 18-00. The ticket office is open only until 17:00.

The visitor receives a ticket, which consists of three tear-off parts. Each part gives you the right to visit:

It is important! The exhibition in the museum is weak and not very interesting, so you don’t even have to waste time visiting it.

The best time for the excursion is from 7-00, when there is no sweltering heat. You can also explore the attraction after lunch - at 15-00, when the number of tourists decreases. Be sure to take water with you, since you will have to walk for at least 3 hours, and water is not sold on the territory of the complex.


The best weather to visit Sigiriya - from December to April or from mid-summer to September. At this time, it rarely rains in the central part of Sri Lanka; the weather is most favorable for visiting the castle. The most precipitation falls in April and November.

It is important! The most popular entertainment among tourists is to watch the sunrise in Sigiriya. To do this, choose a clear period so that the sky is not overcast.

Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) is an ancient complex on a rock, which is recognized as the most visited on the island. This is unique historical monument architecture that can still be admired today.

Interesting video from useful information- take a look if you want to know more about Sigiriya.

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shus 2013

A little history and geography

The famous rock of Sigiriya, on the flat top of which in the 5th century AD. The residence of the parricide king Kassapa I was located 22 km northeast of Dambulla and about 70 km west of Polonnaruwa.

It is believed that the modern word "Sigiriya" comes from the ancient Pali name of the place "Sihagiri", which translates as "Lion Mountain (or hill)" (siha (lion) + giri (mountain, hill)). The Russian-language name of Sigiriya “Lion Rock” is a translation from the name “Lion Rock” accepted in English-language literature.

From a geological point of view, Sigiriya is a huge outlier composed of several types of gneiss with almost vertical slopes, surrounded along the perimeter by a scree of stone blocks. The height of Sigiriya above sea level is 360 m, and above the level of the surrounding plain - approximately 180 m, while the height of the rock itself is 110 m at the midpoint (the flat top of Sigiriya has a size of approximately 180 x 80 meters and a height difference of about 30 m) .

About a kilometer north of Sigiriya there is another high rock flat top – ( see map below in text), slightly below the top of which are located giant statue the reclining Buddha and the ruins of ancient monastic abodes, and at the foot there is a modern Buddhist monastery and the ruins of an ancient monastic complex.

Sigiriya gained its glory and greatness during the time of King Kassapa I (Kashyapa I), who, having overthrown and killed his father, ruled Sri Lanka from 477 to 495 AD, but long before that at the foot of Sigiriya and its neighboring Pidurangala and Mapagal there were small Buddhist monasteries, the monks of which built their homes in a pile of huge boulders that surrounded the foot of these high rocky hills.

After the death of Kassapa I and the return of the capital of the Sri Lankan state back to Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Pidurangala remained large settlements with monastic complexes, and then during the period of unrest and wars they were gradually abandoned until the beginning of the exploration of these places by the British in the first half of the 19th century.

Kassapa (Kashyapa) was the son of the younger wife of King Dhatusena (459 - 477 AD) - the great Sri Lankan ruler who became famous for driving out the South Indian invaders (who had previously ruled Anuradhapura for about a quarter of a century) , the unification of the entire country under a single authority and the construction of large-scale hydraulic structures.

Under King Dhatusena, the most ambitious hydraulic complex of ancient Sri Lanka was built, which is still in use today. To expand the irrigated area and, most importantly, increase the stability of irrigation, through the efforts of the king, an ambitious project was implemented to transfer water from the Matale foothills to the dry zone to Anuradhapura. Over the course of several years, a cascade of two reservoirs, located slightly north of Dambulla, Kala Wewa and Balalu Wewa, and the Yoda Ela canal were built, through which water flowed into the main reservoir of Anuradhapura, Tissa Wewa. Wewa). The length of the dam blocking Kala Veva is almost seven kilometers with a height of about 15 m, the perimeter of the resulting reservoir is approximately 60 km, and the length of the Ioda Ella canal is approximately 87 km.

In accordance with his status and tradition, Kassapa (who was the son of the king’s younger wife) most likely would have become the appanage ruler of one of the parts of the Sri Lankan state, since he was the legal heir royal throne was his half-brother - the son of the main queen, Prince Mogallana (Mugalan, Moggallana).

But this did not suit the ambitious Kassapa, and he, overwhelmed by a thirst for power, first overthrew and imprisoned, and then executed (walled up alive) his father. His brother Prince Mogallana managed to escape death and fled to the territory of the Pandyan state in South India.

Having seized the throne of the state, Kassapa gained control over the army, treasury and revenues, but was never able to achieve recognition of the legitimacy of his power - both the sangha (Buddhist clergy), the aristocracy, and the people treated him as a usurper-parricide and were at any time ready to support the return of the rightful ruler of Mogallana.

By remaining in Anuradhapura, Kassapa was at risk of losing not only his throne, but also his life, so for the sake of personal safety, he moved the location of his court to Sigiriya, more than 80 km from Anuradhapura, and built his own royal residence on the top of an inaccessible rock.

The end of his reign and life came 18 years after the murder of his father. In 495 AD. Prince Mogallana returned to Sri Lanka and, with the help of the Indian army, defeated Kassapa, who, in order to avoid falling into the hands of his brother, committed suicide (pierced himself with a sword).

With the return of Mogallana, Anuradhapura again became the capital of Sri Lanka, and Sigiriya and its environs were transferred to the Buddhist sangha as monastic lands.

general review

Sigiriya was built in a short time and from scratch, but most importantly, according to a well-developed unified master plan, so it was an “ideal city”: with well-planned functional areas, a convenient road network, an excellent water supply system and impressive defensive structures .

The layout of the city revolves around a huge rock, rising above the surrounding plain to a height of about 180 m, on the flat top of which was located the palace of Kassapa I with royal chambers, gardens and pools.

The northern side of the Sigiriya rock looks like a giant step - here a ledge about 100 m high from the level of the plain adjoins the main rock massif ( see right photo below). The upper part of this ledge is a flat, partially man-made platform about 60 m long and about 30 m wide and is usually called the "Upper Terrace", "Lion's Terrace", "Lion's Paws Terrace", "Lion's Paws Terrace" ( Lion plateau), etc. The famous “Lion Gate” is located on it, through which the ascent to the top to the royal palace begins along the stairs that rise in zigzags along the rocky cliff.

A platform descending by ledges from north to south (height difference is approximately 30 m, from 360 to 330 above sea level) on the upper part of the rock ( cm. left photo below) is partly natural and partly man-made. In plan, it resembles the imprint of a person's right foot, and its dimensions are about 180 m from north to south and about 80 meters from west to east, and the total area is approximately 1.4 hectares.

Along the entire perimeter of the rock, there is an area that is covered with a pile of huge stone boulders that have fallen from the rock over millions of years in the process of its natural destruction. The scree has a slight slope down from the foot of the cliff, and its width is uneven (it is wider in the north and narrower in the south) and averages 120-150 m. Its height at the junction with the cliff is approximately 50 meters from the level of the surrounding plain .

On the western side, the foot of the cliff is equipped with man-made terraces with stone retaining walls on which huge trees grow ( see left photo above - to the left of the stairs and map), which is why this place is usually called the “Lower Terraces” or “Terraced Garden”.

To the west, the “summer” territory, fenced with two ditches with water and three rows of ramparts, adjoins the rock of Sigiriya. royal palace and "Water Gardens" ( see map), intended for relaxation and pastime of the king and his family members, as well as for palace ceremonies. Its size is 900 m (from north to south) by 800 m (from west to east).

To the east of the rock is the “Inner City,” surrounded by a moat with water and a rampart, which occupies an area measuring 500 (from north to south) by 700 (from west to east) meters, and to the southeast it is adjacent to a fenced rampart “ Outer City,” the territory of which, according to archaeologists, was approximately 1000 by 1500 meters.

About 150 meters south of the cliff, close to southern edge"Lower Terraces" is located main source water supply for the royal palace and city – artificial lake Sigiriya Wewa (17) , and immediately at his south coast– another developed rocky hill, Mapagala.

Ticket office and main entrance (7) to the archaeological zone of Sigiriya are located on the western side ancient city between external (5) and internal (6) ditches.

The internal ditch is a wide channel, the banks of which are lined with stone. After crossing the internal ditch along the bridge and climbing the steps of a narrow staircase to the remains of the fortress rampart, a wide dirt road begins, to the right and left of which are the “Water Gardens” (8) , fountains, various artificial reservoirs, as well as the remains of the foundations of the “Summer Palace” (9) and other buildings.

Fifty meters after climbing the inner ramparts, immediately to the right (south) of the road is the “Miniature Water Garden”. On the left (to the north) was exactly the same (mirrored in layout), but it has not been excavated (left “for future generations”).

Further to the right and left of the road is the “Water Garden”, which includes four L-shaped reservoirs symmetrically located to the right and left of the road (actually they are square, but each has about a third of its upper corners filled with a square platform) . The right (southern) ones were excavated, the left (northern) ones were also left “for future generations”.

Further to the left and right of the road is a “fountain garden” with narrow and long ponds, limited by a low parapet. You can see round stone slabs with holes from where the water of the fountains came out. Behind them, deeper into the territory (to the north and south), are the ruins of two “summer palaces”, surrounded by the remains of ditches with water. The southern one has been excavated as usual, but the northern one has not.

Immediately behind the fountain garden, about 30 meters to the left to the north, under a parabolic-shaped rock, is the “Octagonal Pond” (Atapattam pokuna) (10) .

Walking around Sigiriya

Entrance to the archaeological area, "Water Gardens" and "Rock Garden"

Sigiriya is probably the most impressive and one of the most popular tourist places in Sri Lanka and therefore thousands of people visit it every day (and not only foreign tourists– a huge number of excursionists are Sri Lankans themselves).

Therefore, in order to calmly walk around the archaeological zone and the top of the rock, it is better to go to Sigiriya from the very early morning - the entrance to the territory opens from 7.30. We arrived almost at the opening and still it seemed that there were a lot of people for the early morning (although we saw what really was “a lot” already on our way back - in some places there was just a wall of people).

The ticket price in Sigiriya corresponds to its status and is the highest among all attractions in Sri Lanka - $30 per person.

To enter the territory of the archaeological zone, you need to bypass the control, cross the internal ditch over the bridge and climb the ramparts.

Immediately after descending from the shaft, an area begins with rather monotonous brick foundations scattered across perfectly manicured lawns.

Then the path goes past the “Water Gardens”, “Fountain Gardens”, etc., with excavated and restored objects located on the right (to the south), and on the left (to the north) – the contours of the same structures, barely visible in the ground (everything is symmetrical here), left “for future generations.”

A huge rock, illuminated from behind by the rays of the rising sun, is barely visible in the thick morning fog, so it is almost impossible to see anything, much less take a photograph.

The path leading from the very entrance to Sigiriya ends with a dirt platform located in front of the stairs leading to the “Lower Terraces” and further to the frescoes, the “Mirror Wall” and the “Lion Terrace”.

At the beginning of the stairs there are a group of local guides with habits corresponding to the price of tickets and the mass of the place.

On the right, not far from the stairs, there is a rock niche, under which in ancient times there was a cave monastic monastery (if you look at it, then to continue the route you then need to go back to the beginning of the stairs).

The route to the top of the rock starts from the beginning of the stairs, indicated on the plan diagram (1) (see below).

Area (2) - This is an intersection with a path leading from the descent from the cliff to the exit to the parking lot. The traditional route goes from (1) through (2) –(3) –(5) before (6). Tour groups usually visit the “Garden of Rocks” (“Garden of Stone Blocks”, Boulder garden) on the way to the exit to the parking lot, but here it is convenient for everyone.

In principle, if you are not interested in frescoes and the “Mirror Wall” (or have no time), then you can climb to the “Lion Plateau” directly from (2) To (6) .

(1) Beginning of the stairs (entrance to the terraces)

(2) "Crossroads"

(3) Boulder arch N1

(4) Boulder arch N2

(5) Niche with frescoes and the beginning of the “Mirror Wall” (Frescoes and Mirror Wall)

(6) Lion's paws enter

Ascent on the first section to the “Rock Arch N1” (3) not tiring: the path runs past picturesque rocks and huge trees, and flights of stairs alternate with paved terrace areas.

Approximately halfway up the staircase, a wide dirt path intersects it - this is the “crossroads” indicated on the plan diagram (2) .

The path comes here from the left (north) from above, from the descent from the “Lion Terrace” and goes to the right (south) towards the exit. In principle, you can go from here to the “Garden of Stone Blocks”, and then return to the Rock Arch N1 (i.e., go around “from the bottom up”). But in my opinion, Boulder garden looks better when walked around "top down": starting from the arch and returning to the “crossroads”.

“Rock Arch N1” is a man-made triangular passage between two stone blocks leaning against each other.

To the right and left of the beginning of the staircase going through the arch, there are rock niches (in the left photo below - the right niche), under which in ancient times there were either monastic cave monasteries or some kind of religious buildings. Niches, like all similar structures in Sri Lanka, are contoured along the top catarama(katarama) - a narrow rain cornice, under which rock inscriptions were often placed.

During the heyday of Sigiriya, almost all the stone blocks scattered near the central passage had brick (or wooden on a brick foundation) buildings on top, connected by galleries and stairs. Therefore, the surfaces of all rocks are dotted with dotted lines of rectangular grooves for brickwork, square recesses for beams of stairs and ceilings, shallow vertical grooves for posts, drainage grooves, steps of stairs, etc.

The stone blocks that form the “Rock Arch N1” are no exception - just stop and take your time to study their upper part.

On the right photo below: view of the upper part of the rock to the right of the stairs from the top of Sigiriya.

To the right of the path, next to the rock niche, there is a sign (left photo below) with an arrow and the inscription “Audience Hall” (this is one of the main attractions of the “Boulder Garden”).

In the photo below: view of the entrance to the “Rock Arch N1” from the top of the stone block located opposite the niche.

In the photo below: on this rock in ancient times there was a small light structure (possibly a monastic cootie).

Until the sun peeks out from behind the rock, the landscaped park on the terraces looks simply amazing.

After about twenty meters, a high rock becomes visible, which is called Cistern rock - “Rock with a pond”, because. on it there is a small rectangular pond made of stone blocks. Directly in front of it is one of the main attractions of Boulder Garden: the Audience Hall - a flat stone platform with a throne carved from a monolith of rock (the group of tourists in the photo is just moving towards the passage between Cistern rock and Audience Hall).

A little short of the Audience Hall, on the left along the way and a little higher level there is another stone throne, carved from solid rock (in the photo above its raw rock side is visible on the right in the foreground).

In the right photo, on the rock located on the right in the background, a line of rectangular grooves running from the base to the top of the rock is clearly visible.

The “Reception Hall” is a huge block of stone with a surface hewn to a perfectly flat surface, in which semicircular sides, steps and a stone bench-throne are carved.

Here we must remember that in Southern and South-East Asia royal throne usually It was a flat elevation under a canopy or canopy, on which the ruler himself and (sometimes) the closest members of his family were located (in the lotus position, i.e., with his legs folded “Turkish style”).

For what purpose and at what time the “Reception Hall” was built is not known for certain, so its purpose (secular or religious) can only be speculated at present.

The Audience Hall and the Cistern rock are separated by a narrow passage, at the end of which there is a stone staircase. The passage is clearly man-made and is most likely the result of widening and leveling a narrow gap between neighboring rocks (it is believed that the block of stone from which the “Reception Hall” was carved is a fragment of the “Rock with a Pond”).

The staircase at the end of the passage ends on a small dirt platform. To the right and left of it, at the southwestern bases of the “Reception Hall” and “Rocks with a Pond”, traditional rock niches are carved.

The left building is located below ground level and has a semicircular façade wall, while the right one is a smaller copy of the “Reception Hall”, hidden under a rock niche.

About ten meters from the exit from the rocky passage there is Boulder arch N2, through which you can go down to the lower level terrace.

Down and to the right of the “Rock Arch N2” is another one of the main attractions of the “Rock Garden”: “Cobra hood rock” - a tall narrow rock, really very similar to a cobra with its hood spread.

At its base there is a rock niche with an almost horizontal ceiling, on which remains of ancient plaster and paintings have been preserved.

From here you can walk along the terraces along a wide, well-trodden path to the main staircase.

The circle around the “Boulders Garden” ended two levels below the “Boulders Arch N1”, from which we began our detour.

Now the movement continues only upward: along various stairs, as well as stone and metal air bridges.

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Address: Sri Lanka
Coordinates: 7°57"25.4"N 80°45"36.2"E

Content:

Short description

Sigiriya - residence of Kassapa I

All his life Kassapa will live in fear, fearing his brother’s revenge. At the top of the rock, the newly-minted king erected an impregnable citadel, around which he built high walls and ditches filled with water, serving as a barrier to the assault.

Originally, the staircase carved into the rock leading to the top passed through the mouth of a giant brick lion, but today only two gigantic paws have survived from the terrifying sculpture. Since then, the mountain has received the name “Sigiriya”, which means “Lion Rock”. At the foot of the plateau, Kassapa laid out gardens. Some fountains still flow in these gardens, spraying water in the shape of a lotus.

View of the stairs leading to the top of the rock and the lion's paws

Sights of Sigiriya

In addition to lion paws and fountains, a huge royal throne has been preserved in Sigiriya, as well as alleys and caves; one of them, with traces of ancient painting on the ceiling, is called “Cobra Hood”. Along the Lion Rock stretches the “Hall of Mirrors” - a stone niche 140 meters long and 40 meters high, decorated with frescoes. The almost life-size frescoes depict apsaras - celestial half-naked dancers throwing water lily flowers through the clouds to the ground. The luxurious hairstyles of the “Sigiriya maidens” are decorated with ribbons and jewelry. Women have massive earrings in their ears, necklaces on their necks, and bracelets studded with precious stones on their wrists.

Reservoir

A 5th-century inscription reads: “The 500 young beauties in their splendor are like the crown of glory of the royal treasures.” To date, only 18 frescoes have survived, but, despite the venerable age of the drawings, the colors have not lost their brightness. The “mirror wall” is plastered with a mixture of gypsum and lime mixed with egg whites and wild bee honey. Its polished surface is dotted with ancient poems (8th century), glorifying the beauty of the “Sigiriya maidens”. For the convenience of tourists, the narrow staircase leading from the lion's paws of Sigiriya has been widened and rebuilt from corrosion-resistant steel.

King's throne

Fall of Sigiriya - Moggallan's Retribution

Fearing the sword and poison, Kassapa at the same time imagined himself to be a god. Living in luxurious palace at the top of the world, he was the incarnation of Kubera - the god of wealth. But the fairy tale ended after all. 18 years passed, and in 495, one night Kassapa saw from the top how a huge army led by Moggallan was advancing from the north towards Sigiriya. Together with his army, Kassapa rushed towards the enemy. The battle lasted for a long time, but suddenly Kassapa’s war elephant fell into a swamp, roared and turned to the side. The warriors took this step as a signal to retreat and left the battlefield. The defeated Kassapa, not wanting to surrender, grabbed a dagger from its sheath and cut his throat.

Frescoes

Sigiriya fell. Time has consigned to oblivion the dark but true story of the parricide king, leaving only traces of the once formidable fortifications, the ruins of the royal palaces and images of the “Sigirian maidens” hovering in the niches of the “Hall of Mirrors”.

Sigiriya (Lion Rock) is an ancient mountain ruined fortress with the remains of a palace, located in central region Matale in 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 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

Sigiriya was inhabited during prehistoric times and was used as a mountain monastery refuge since around 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 the popular book "The History of Sigiriya"

Rock Sigiriya- a powerful formation from 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

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 mountainous hills, including defensive structures, palaces and gardens, date back to the reign of Kasapa

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

Ancient castle, built by Kasyapa, has been preserved on the top of the hill to this day, as well as parts of the fortress. Despite its age, some of the solutions of 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

Ancient temple at the top of the rock was a gigantic art gallery, frescoes covered most of the western slope of the rock, 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


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Sigiriya, which means in Senegalese Lion Rock- this is destroyed 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 map 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: