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Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
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Sigiriya was created by
King Kasyapa who reigned between 477-495 AD. The summit of this
almost inaccessible rock is 180 m (600 ft) above the surrounding
jungle, and was the setting for a courtly paradise of elegant
pavilions amid gardens and pools. The rock was transformed into a
recumbent lion by the addition of a brick-built head and foreparts
of which only the paws remain. The rock's natural defences were
augmented by broad moats and stone perimeter walls. In the event of
an enemy approach, the outer moat was built so as to flood the
entire area between the two moats.
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The Water Gardens of
Sigriya
• The terraced
gardens slope down to the boulder gardens and then to the
geometrically laid out water gardens, with running water and
fountains, pools and ponds, aquatic flowers and birds, and tropical
trees. The entire water garden is in a walled enclosure.
• The miniature water garden was discovered not long ago. It has
winding waterways, shallow reflecting pools, cobbled watercourses,
marbled floors and an intricate layer of tiled roof buildings.
• Adjacent to this is a central island surrounded by four L-shaped
water pools. These pools appear to have been used as bathing pools.
These had polished walls, flights of steps and surrounding terraces
- similar to a modern-day swimming pool.
• There are fountains fed by water under gravitational pressure from
the artificial Sigiriya Lake. Symmetrically perforated limestone
plates fashion their spouts. These fountains operate in rainy
weather even today.
• An octagonal pool is set at the transition point from the water
gardens to the boulder gardens. It is surrounded by a wide terrace,
which follows its shape. A gigantic boulder almost the height of a
six-storey building shelters the pool. |
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The Boulder Gardens
Picturesque boulders of various
sizes can be found here. These are linked together by winding
pathways and paved passages, with boulder arches and limestone
stairways. The honeycombed holes on these boulders are merely
footings for brick and timber edifices. These boulders also have
fascinating rock carvings. |
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Audience Hall
This is an enormous split
boulder. The fallen half of the boulder is known as the Audience
Hall Rock, a 5 m (16 ft) long carved throne facing a levelled
square. The standing half is a water reservoir, dug into the rock -
hence its name, Cistern Rock. |
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Cobra Hood Cave
This is thus named because of its shape. Its
painted ceiling is dated back to the period of King Kasyapa (5th
Century AD). It is however believed, that Buddhist monks from as
early as the 3rd Century BC used this cave. |
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Preaching Rock
Its tiered platforms are believed to have
been used by monks to deliver orations. |
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The Terraced Gardens
Merging with the boulder gardens are the
terraced gardens, with each terrace rising above the other.
Impressive brick-built staircases with limestone steps traverse the
terraces, providing access to the uppermost terrace and onwards to
the Sigiriya Rock itself. |
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The Lions Platform
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Mirror Wall
Above the Lion's Platform and beneath the
fresco pockets is a highly polished Mirror Wall. Coated with
polished lime, this wall reflects like glass. Scribbled on the
surface of the Mirror Wall are nearly 1,500 pieces of prose and
poetry composed by the ancient visitors who flocked to Sigiriya from
all over the island. These poems were written between the 7th and
13th centuries. They are said to be Sri Lanka's oldest graffiti.
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Frescoes
These are one of the highlights of Sigiriya.
These figures of women are depicted as rising from clouds and are
known as "the cloud damsels". They are depicted in three quarter
profile. Shown in three quarter profile, the paintings have striking
diversity in mood and personality, face and body, clothes and
make-up. Flowers are used in profusion in their hair, in baskets and
in various forms. Originally, there were over 500 paintings drawn
across the face of Sigiriya Rock forming a gigantic gallery of
paintings. This covered an area almost twice as large as a football
field. These paintings may perhaps have been the largest murals ever
attempted by man. However, only 23 of these remain today.
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The Palace on the Summit
The inner palace occupies the higher
western sections. The outer palace occupies the lower eastern
sections and the palace gardens cover the south. They all converge
on a large and lovely rock-cut pool, probably used for water
storage. This 3 acre site is stupendous and the view is breathtaking
with its thousands of marbled steps and walkways. |
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