Majestic Ruins of Sigiriya Unveiled in Ten Stunning Photographs
Climbing to the ancient Sky City of Sigiriya in the Matale District of Sri Lanka isn't just a hike; it's a journey through history. This unbelievable rock fortress, standing tall near the quaint town of Dambulla, challenges even the fittest among us with its staggering 1,200 steps!
Once you reach the top, the sight that greets you is awe-inspiring. The panoramic view of the surrounding landscape will take your breath away, making all the sweat and grunts on the way up worth it!
This ancient marvel, also known as Sinhagiri, is said to be one of the hidden wonders of the ancient world. Perched atop a towering column of rock, it served as a royal fortress during the 400s CE, and it's that mysterious royal capital that we have to thank for its stunning design and engineering prowess.
While today it goes by the name of Sigiriya, history buffs might know it as the City of the Gods, a title some scholars attribute to the site being more than 5,000 years old. An utterly unprecedented engineering feat, the site was so innovative that it's now globally recognized as one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
Legend has it that the site was chosen by King Kashyapa, also known as Kashyapa I, who ruled from 477 to 495 CE, as his new capital. To construct his palace, he picked the towering rock, adorning the sides with breathtaking, colorful frescoes that have surprisingly stood the test of time.
A massive gateway in the form of a lion graced a small plateau halfway up the side of the rock, giving the site its name, Lion Rock, or Sīnhāgiri. This royal capital was only briefly inhabited, however, as it was soon abandoned after the king's death. Interestingly, it was later used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
The summit of Sigiriya is an intriguing blend of symmetry and asymmetry, with human-made geometric structures interconnected with natural forms of the surroundings. This unique design has made it a truly one-of-a-kind rock fortress that will leave visitors in awe.
Water-retaining structures and sophisticated surface and subsurface hydraulic systems make up a significant portion of Sigiriya's complex network. Some of these systems are still operational today!
The mirror wall, a unique feature of Sigiriya, was previously polished to such a mirror-like sheen that passers-by could see their reflections. Locals believe that the mirror-like sheen was achieved using a special plaster composed of lime, egg whites, and honey.
Thousands of years ago, people would leave their mark on Sigiriya, etching poems onto the city's rocks about love, laughter, life experiences, and more. Today, it's recognized as one of the world's oldest tourist attractions, attracting visitors from far and wide who wish to revel in its beauty and captured history.
Scholars like Lal Srinivas and Mirando Obesekara have speculated that Sigiriya could be the ancient city of Alakamandava, which was built more than 5,000 years ago by King Kubera. Although much remains unknown, we do know that this ancient site saw a transformation during the reign of King Kashyapa, where the city was transformed into a complex city and fortress.
Despite its appearance of a solitary rock in the midst of sprawling greenery, Sigiriya's history goes back much further than many realize. Archaeological evidence suggests that the site had been inhabited since ancient times, with several rock shelters and caves discovered containing evidence of habitation dating back more than 3,000 years.
It wasn't until 1831, when Major Jonathan Forbes stumbled upon the bush-covered summit of Sigiriya, that the outside world became aware of the ancient fortress. It wouldn't be until the 1980s that archaeologists and scholars began to dig deeper into the site's mysteries.
Among them was the British civil servant and commissioner, H.C.P. Bell—a true pioneer in the study of Sigiriya. Bell's extensive studies of Sigiriya remain a cornerstone of modern scholarly understanding of the site today.
- The exotic panorama from Sigiriya's summit, adorned with remnants of ancient mythology in the form of jaw-dropping frescoes and a majestic mirror wall, promises an immersive travel experience for history enthusiasts and casual tourists alike.
- Submerged in the rich tapestry of mythology, history, and lifestyle, a journey through the winding paths of Sigiriya serves as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient urban planners, tying the extraordinary feats of these architects to the present-day appreciation of their work by global tourists.
