Sigiriya comes from Sihagri, which means rock lion, one of Sri Lanka’s most impressive views. Therefore, this rocky mountain is shaped like a 180m high lion, standing upright in the middle of this blue sky, also known as Lion Mountain. On top of this flat granite there is a system of vestiges of the ancient city of Sigiriya, the capital built by King Kassapa I in the 5th century.
King Kassapa I was the son of Dhatusena, who came to power after he planned to assassinate his father and briefly expel his brother. Fearing revenge later, Kassapa I built a fortified palace on the rocky mountain of Sigiriya, considered an impregnable place.
It was there, however, that he was defeated after a brief but brutal battle in 495, which led him to slit his own throat and commit suicide. After the death of Kassapa I, Moggallana turned the palace in Sigiriya into a monastery for monks.
During the 11 years King Kassapa I lived in Sigiriya, he created a particularly splendid residence and established his capital there. This impressive monument to the fortified capital still stands today.
The remnants of the ancient city of Sigiriya left on top of the Lion’s Stone are the remnants of fortified fortresses, palaces, vast grounds, gardens, lakes, promenades and a series of tunnels and bridges. granite walking ladder, plaster…
The main entrance to the castle is located on the north side, designed as a giant stone lion, its legs still exist to this day, but the front body part has been destroyed over time. .
The western wall of Sigiriya is covered with paintings of giant Sigiriya beauties, 140m long and 40m high, whose identities are still a mystery to this day, carved in stone in during the reign of King Kasyapa.
The paintings are a celebration of the beauty of women, the source of a style of pictorial expression that has existed for centuries, and are also masterpieces that people today cannot help but admire. The smooth lines in the paintings of the beautiful girls on the cliff are said to resemble the Ajantha style of painting in India.
It is estimated that there were 500 paintings painted in this area, however, now there are only about 22 paintings, of which some are still quite intact with bright and vivid colors. The paintings depict nude women, it is said that these are the wives of the king or may also be mediums conducting religious rites.
Among the remaining works of Sigiriya, it is noteworthy that the lake is chiseled from monolithic rock with an area of 27 x 21m, which looks like a swimming pool on the roof of a modern building. In addition, in the grounds of Sigiriya, there are smooth stone slabs facing the rising sun, reminiscent of the king’s stone throne. These stones are located at the foot of the rocky mountain, protected by large walls 3m high.
In addition to the aforementioned structures, there is a terraced garden embellished with small canals and a fountain that is still in operation inside the grounds of Sigiriya.
In 1982, UNESCO declared the ancient city of Sigiriya of Sri Lanka as a World Cultural Heritage, so it is protected quite strictly. Although it is no longer an intact palace and fortress, the precious vestiges of Sigiriya are enough to show the extraordinary strength and creativity of the ancient Sri Lankans.