Friday, March 23, 2012
wonder of asia!
Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sri Lank
Sigiriya, the spectacular
‘Lion rock’ fortress, stands majestically overlooking the luscious green jungle
surroundings, and is one of Sri Lanka’s major attractions.
This was built by King
Kasyapa, a son of King Dhatusena, by a palace consort. As legend goes, King
Dhatusena was overthrown and walled in, alive by Kasyapa in 473 AD. Mogallana,
Dhatusena’s son by the true queen fled to India, vowing revenge.
Kasyapa fearing an invasion
built this impregnable fortress at Sigiriya.
When the invasion finally
came in 491, Kasyapa rode out to battle in his war elephant.In an attempt to
out-flank his half-brother, Kasyapa took a wrong turn, where his elephant got
stuck in the mud. His soldiers, thinking Kasyapa was retreating fled abandoning
him, and he took his own life.
Sigiriya later became a
monastic refuge, but eventually fell into disrepair.
The beautifully and
elaborately landscaped water gardens, contain a complex network of underground
water distribution system, which provides water to the Royal baths, the many
little moated islands & fountains, some fountains still work during the
rainy season! A superb view of the Gardens could be had from halfway up the
rock.
Frescoes –
The Sigiriya Damsels
About halfway up the rock
is a sheltered gallery of frescoes painted on the sheer rock face. The
‘Heavenly Maidens’ are similar in style to the paintings of Ajantha in India.
Some of them are still in remarkably good condition. Only 22 out of an
estimated 500 pictures now remain. Flash photography is not allowed at this
site.
The Mirror
Wall with Graffiti
Beyond the fresco gallery,
the pathway circles the the sheer face of the rock, and is protected by a 3m
high wall. This wall was coated with a mirror-smooth glaze, in which visitors
over 1000 years ago noted their impressions of the women in the gallery above.
The graffiti was mostly inscribed between the 7th and 11th Century AD. 685 of
them have been deciphered and published. The graffiti are a great source for
the scholars to study the development of the Sinhala language and script.
Lion Platform
The Northern end of the
rock the pathway emerges to a platform, from which the rock derives its name
Sigiriya (the Lion Rock). At one time a gigantic brick lion sat at the end of
the rock, and the final ascent to the summit was between the lions paws and
into it’s mouth! Today the lion has disappeared, only the paws and the first
steps are visible.
The Summit
Covering an area of around
1.6 hectares, the remains of the foundations show that the summit would have
been completely covered with buildings. The design, layout and magnificent
views that it still enjoys to this day, suggest Sigiriya would have been more
of a royal palace of pleasure than a fortress. A pond scooped out of solid rock
measuring 27m x 21m, looks like a modern rooftop pool. A smooth slab of flat
stone, often referred to as the kings stone throne, faces the rising sun.
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