Sigiriya is a Sri Lankan heritage rock fortress situated in the central province matale district of Sri Lanka. It is within the cultural triangle, which includes five of the seven world heritage site in Sri Lanka. It is surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. This also named as a world heritage by UNESO also this is one of the seven world heritage site. The Sigiriya is a huge rock which is made from hardened magma. It stands high above the surrounding plain, visible for miles in all directions.
The rock rests on a steep mound that rises from the flat plain surrounding. The rock itself 370 m (1,214 ft) high from the sea level and is sheer on all sides, in many places overhanging the base. It is elliptical in shape and has a flat top.
The sigiriya kingdom was built by great king kashyapa who was son of a non-royal consort of former great king Dathusens in AD 477- 495. Tha king kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya to protect from king Moggallana who was the original son of king dathusena who fled to south India to protect from king kashyapa.
During King Kasyapa’s era Sigiriya was developed into a city and fortress. It includes the rock summit around it, including protective structures like guard rooms for soldiers and some structures from water, and gardens.
When we consider the sigiriya site plan it is one of the most important city plans in Sri Lankan history which can considered as very imaginative and creative. The garden planning is also wonderful. The kings royal garden contains water retaining structures, including sophisticated surface/subsurface hydraulic systems, some of which are working even today. The gardens are divided into three distinct but linked forms; water gardens, Cave and boulder gardens, and terraced gardens.
The water gardens can be seen in the central section of the garden. The boulder garden consists several large boulders linked with winding pathways. The boulder gardens extend from the northern slopes to the southern slopes of the hills at the foot of Sigiriya Mountain. The terraced gardens are formed from the natural hill at the base of the Sigiriya rock.
And the other main part of sigiriya is “the mirror wall”. Originally this wall was well polished that the king could see himself whilst he walked alongside it. Made of a kind of porcelain, the wall is now partially covered with verses scribbled by visitors to the rock. Well preserved, the mirror wall has verses dating from the 8th century. People of all types wrote on the wall, on varying subjects such as love, irony, and experiences of all sorts.
The most important part of the sigiriya kingdom is the world famous sigiri frescos. The paintings have covered most of the western face of the rock, covering an area of roughly 1000 square meters. In most of the frescoes there are ladies with followers with their hands. All frescoes are pictures of ladies with top body part which are nude. Sigiriya frescoes are similar to Ajanta caves wall fresco in India.
The rock rests on a steep mound that rises from the flat plain surrounding. The rock itself 370 m (1,214 ft) high from the sea level and is sheer on all sides, in many places overhanging the base. It is elliptical in shape and has a flat top.
The sigiriya kingdom was built by great king kashyapa who was son of a non-royal consort of former great king Dathusens in AD 477- 495. Tha king kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura to the more secure Sigiriya to protect from king Moggallana who was the original son of king dathusena who fled to south India to protect from king kashyapa.
During King Kasyapa’s era Sigiriya was developed into a city and fortress. It includes the rock summit around it, including protective structures like guard rooms for soldiers and some structures from water, and gardens.
When we consider the sigiriya site plan it is one of the most important city plans in Sri Lankan history which can considered as very imaginative and creative. The garden planning is also wonderful. The kings royal garden contains water retaining structures, including sophisticated surface/subsurface hydraulic systems, some of which are working even today. The gardens are divided into three distinct but linked forms; water gardens, Cave and boulder gardens, and terraced gardens.
The water gardens can be seen in the central section of the garden. The boulder garden consists several large boulders linked with winding pathways. The boulder gardens extend from the northern slopes to the southern slopes of the hills at the foot of Sigiriya Mountain. The terraced gardens are formed from the natural hill at the base of the Sigiriya rock.
And the other main part of sigiriya is “the mirror wall”. Originally this wall was well polished that the king could see himself whilst he walked alongside it. Made of a kind of porcelain, the wall is now partially covered with verses scribbled by visitors to the rock. Well preserved, the mirror wall has verses dating from the 8th century. People of all types wrote on the wall, on varying subjects such as love, irony, and experiences of all sorts.
The most important part of the sigiriya kingdom is the world famous sigiri frescos. The paintings have covered most of the western face of the rock, covering an area of roughly 1000 square meters. In most of the frescoes there are ladies with followers with their hands. All frescoes are pictures of ladies with top body part which are nude. Sigiriya frescoes are similar to Ajanta caves wall fresco in India.
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