This Ancient site was our number one destination. The reason for coming to this remote jungle town of Habanara.
This Kingdom Palace, on the top of a 660 foot high rock is completely unique, and is actually referred to as the “8th Wonder of the World.” Though not an official title, it certainly is an eye-popping, draw-dropping experience, to climb the mountain rock, reach the summit, and get a taste of the vista views! Quite something to behold, and memorable. On a clear day like we had, one can see for miles; 360 degrees, so it is no small wonder this rock was chosen for a stronghold.
This is a rainy time in this part of Sri Lanka, due to the monsoons hitting up in the north and northeastern part of the island, but we came anyway, hoping for some breaks in the weather to enjoy the adventuring in what is called the “cultural triangle” of Sri Lanka. So far, we are having great luck touring, in between the storms! As we move further south, away from the monsoons, the weather should improve.
Getting to the top of this mighty rock is a serious commitment. There were many people, young and old that made the climb. The trick is to go very slow, as it is a steep and slippery climb; both going up and coming back down. Daryl and I took it plenty slow and enjoyed many stops on the way up. It was great to take in the views, from the many different levels of this hike. I would not think it would be safe to climb this rock in the rain. The ancient stairs are quite narrow and crooked, and the quartz stone makes it slippery, too!
This ancient site is one of the oldest pieces of architectural wonder in the world, and certainly for us, it was a special event to partake in, for that very reason. Long before it was Palace, it was a monastery in the 3rd century! This once lively civilization was lost to history for a very long time, till it was rediscovered about 200 years ago. The reason for the abandoned city is related to two brothers who fought, causing one to flee. ( see more on that under captions). The wood and mortar that were used for the structures, are long gone, but there are a lot of foundations that remain. The systematic shapes of the rocky formations still tells a story of a community that once inhabited this area of the rock; both below, and on top. (a 3.5 acre Kingdom in total).
The Archeological Wonder of Sri Lankan City Planning, Arts, Gardenscaping, Engineering, Hydraulic Technology and Defense of the 5th Century AD Sigiriya Rock Fortress of Sri Lanka is situated in the Matale district near Dambulla and Habarana. It can be reached along Colombo- Habarana highway Before Sigiriya became a Kingdom, Sigiriya Rock base, and the places such as Pidurangala which were endowed with many caves and a temple, had been dwelled in by Buddhist Monks from around the 3rd Century BC. It was also discovered that these areas had been inhabitant by people prior to King Kassapa’s rein. Many caves have Brahmi Inscriptions, that date back to the 3rd Century BC to 1st century AD. After King Mahanama, who ruled Anuradhapura from 410- 432 AD, a prince named Dhatusena became the King of Anuradhapura in 459 AD, defeating the Indian invader “Pandu.” King Dhatusena was the ruler who constructed Kala Wewa or the Kala Wewa Tank, by building a dam across Kala Oya, which is a small river type. The man-made 54 mile long Yoda Ela, which takes water from Kala Wewa to Tissa Wewa is considered an Irrigation engineering wonder, even at the present day. the king had two sons from two of his queens. Mugalan; also called as Moggallana from the head queen and Kassapa’s; also called as Kashyapa from a companion queen. Prince Kashyapa, with the help of the general of the army of King Dhatusena, named Migara, got his father killed and became the King. Prince Mugalan, fearing for his life, escaped to India. The Buddhist Bhikkus and the people were against his conduct and favoured Price Mugalan for the rulership. Fearing that Mugalan will come with an army from India to avenge him at a later day, King Kassapa decided to make Sigiriya his kingdom. During his rule of eighteen years from 477 AD to 495 AD, Sigiriya Kingdom was created. It is believed that he sought the refuge of Sigiriya rock for his safety iot offered, for the fear of losing his life. After 18 years, Prince Mugalan came with an army from India to fight with King Kassapa. During the battle Kassapa killed himself thus Mugalan became the King. He went back to Anuradhapura and ruled the country from there and handed over Sigiriya back to the Buddhist priests. The Sigiriya Kingdom was abandoned around 1150 AD, and was forgotten for the next seven centuries Though King Kashyapa is not regarded in high esteem in Sri Lankan history, due to his dubious conduct, he is credited as the ruler with unsurpassed imagination, put into reality, to create a Sri Lankan style marvel of high calibre art, and engineering skills that could even challange the other world structures of that time. It is most definitely amazing, even in the 21st century, with whatever is remaining as ruins of Sigiriya Kingdom. Stroll in some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world and past unique features, like the mirror wall. So highly polished was this, the king could see himself as he walked by. Find small examples of colorful frescoes which once covered the western side of Sigiriya, or “Lion Rock,” derived from a plateau where once a huge stone lion sat; guarding the gateway to the top. See the remnants as you climb!
Sigiriya was rediscovered during the rule of the British, by Major H. Forbes, in 1831. Climbing to the Sigiriya summit was achieved by A.H.Adams and J. Bailey in 1853. Sigiriya, being a fortress, had been well designed for its defenses, by having ramparts and moats built around it. There are several approaches to the inner city and the most prominent is the Western entrance. From the summit of the rock, the land areas of up to the distances of ten miles, can be watched, making it hard for the enemy to make a surprise attack to the kingdom. King Kassapa had reverted his fortress to an ecological wonder by having Royal Pleasure Gardens, Water Gardens, Fountain Gardens and Boulder Gardens, made inside the inner city as well as at the palace premises on the Rock summit.
Deraniyagala Cave Climbing stone steps and via a metal spiral stairway and in a sheltered pocket on the western face of this rock were the frescoes. A brief description of Cave B 7, (referred to as the Deraniyagala Cave) its paintings and the blue coloring which, apparently was lapis lazuli (a silicate of sodium, calcium and aluminum with a deep blue color) not avail-able in Sri Lanka but in India. There are only 20 of the 500 Sigiriya murals (frescoes) that could now be identified. Time and vandalism having wiped out the rest. Here on the Rock were the much talked of two types of frescoes — “the dark ones and the fair ones” — painted in shades of brown, amber, ochre, red, rose with flowers on their hair and water lilies in their hands. These frescos have inspired the men, women and monks who arrived there to scribble their poems of love and admiration of them on the mirror wall. And then I recalled having been told by some that the ‘dark ones’ referred to as the ‘Golden Ones’ represented the Queens of Kasyapa and by others that they were the women of his harem. That was an-other point on which various views have been expressed. But whatever the reason, it was a picture gallery meant to satisfy the sensual eye of the king who loved all that was beautiful and leading a lonely life, beguiled his loneliness with song — and dance — captured by the artists.
The most renowned is the Sigiriya Rock Paintings or Frescoes of Sigiri Damsels locally called as ‘ Sigiri Apsaras’ painted on a Western Rock face cavity about 100 meters high from the rock base .There now remains around 21 paintings of Sigiriya Damsels but there had been around five hundred paintings during King Kassapa’s time along several other places of the same Western Rock face.
Walking along part of the pathway to the top, had us going by the wall of the rock. It is referred to as a “mirrored wall,” and it was not to be touched… At one time, so highly polished was this wall, the king could see himself as he walked by.
By the time we reached this area, we were “only” 300 steps from the top. We stayed for a bit and rested. It was very humid, and we were tired. We saw plenty of other tourists, and nobody was hot-footing it up this rock…..Today it is possible to see only the front paws of the Lion and between these paws are steps leading to the roofless summit of the Rock, covering an area of three and a half acres. Long gone, many, many years ago, by natural causes, there use to be a stone-carved Lions head up above these lion feet, at the top of the rock The rock was the body of this Lion creation. It would have been incredible to see, in its heyday! Much more impressive in real life, this is a great photo that shows the remaining stairs, that go the final distance to the top….At the bottom of this landing, are two enormous lion feet, with claws, carved out of stone….hence the name Lion Rock. At one time, it is believed an enormous stone was once attached at the top of the rock summit, and the ancients had carved it into the shape of a lions head, thus completing the Lion Rock. It is also determined, the rock cliff, with the lion head, had fallen by natural causes.
We made it! WOW- just WOW!
This is the highest point on the summit. The remains of the Palace
The Palace
The Monkeys were a bit aggressive, if a tourist opened their backpacks….I saw one fly over my head and land on the backback of a gal, who was rummaging through her bag….a clue that food was a possibility. It tok something from the stole something I could not tell what, from the shocked woman and ran off
A pool for collecting rain water, asanas (seats), a cobra hooded cave, and a drip ledge constructed in the 3rd Century to prevent water from flowing into the cave and a stupa were also some others that attracted my attention and which bore evidence of the theory it was the abode of monks before Kasyapa created his residence there
Down below, as we walked the pathway into the first set of steps, we see the beautiful ancient moat
Showing this aerial photo gives a good idea of where we were, after reaching the summit
Hello and Welcome to our Travel Blog Website, We enjoy writing about our experiences and taking photos of our adventuring along the way. Our names are: Daryl and Pen, but Daryl calls me “Bunny.” We met, quite randomly, whilst both… Read More
