Standing 200 meters above the surrounding plain and surrounded by
stunning natural vistas, king Kashyapa could not have chosen a better
location for his godly palace. Descried by many as “the eighth wonder
of the world”, Sigiriya captivates the senses and stuns and imagination
with its sheer scope, ambition and audacity. The rock was chosen to be
the fortress of the renegade king Kashyapa in 477 A.D, who had usurped
the throne by putting his father to death and temporarily deposing of his
older brother and rightful heir Mogallana. Kasyapa then went on to trans
form Sigiriya (which is derived from the word Simha-giri, Lion Mountain) i
nto an elaborate palace complex, complete with pleasure gardens, fountains,
and extensive moats and ramparts. The climb to the top is an arduous one,
but well worth the effort- the adventurous visitor gains a breathtaking view
of the entire plain, as well as a privilege denied to many lesser mortals
1500 years ago- access to the private quarters of King Kashyapa on the
summit of the fortress.

Here are some of the highlights of this remarkable site:

a) The royal pleasure gardens:
found to the west of the citadel, these
symmetrically planned gardens were equipped with sophisticated
hydraulic systems and water-retaining structures. The ancient hydraulic
system, which supplied water to the fountains in the garden, was recently
restored by local engineers. Now the fountains are functioning as smoothly
as they did 1500 years ago.

b) The Frescoes:
These famous 5th century paintings are located in a
depression on the rock face about 100 meters above ground level. It is
believed that they depict the ''apsaras'' or goddesses, whereas others
have argued that they symbolize clouds and lightning, thus conforming to
Kashyapa’s vision of Sigiriya as the celestial abode of a divine king.

c) Mirror Wall:
Located just below the paintings, the surface of this wall is
well polished and covered with the writing known as ''Sigiri graffiti’. These
writings consist of poems written by visitors to the site since the 7th century.

d) The Lion staircase :
At the entrance to the summit one encounters
the Lion staircase, one of the most visually stunning features of Sigiriya.
Here, the architects have carved two massive Lion Paws into the rock face,
perhaps intending to convey Kashyapa’s dominance over the Sinhalese
(the race of lions). The brick wall is still preserved in its original form.
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