Sigiriya
Designated a UNESO world heritage site in 1982, Sigiriya is one of the marvellous creations of ancient kings and considered the 8 th wonder of the world by many; it is undoubtably one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning remaining today.
Rising dramatically from the central green plains, Sigiriya, known as Rock Fortress, is an isolated 200-metre-high rock mountain (a lava plug left over from an ancient long extinct volcano). Near vertical walls stretch up to form a flat summit on which sits the fascinating remains of the ancient regal palace, originally covering 1.5 hectares including its hydraulic engineering, symmetrically designed water gardens. Not for the faint hearted, the climb takes you through a series of staircases attached to the sheer cliff like walls, but there is much to see along the way including amazing constructions, paintings, ancient graffiti and artifacts.
The sides of the palace were once decorated with colourful frescoes, unlike anything else found in Sri Lanka and some of which can still be admired today on route to the summit. During the climb, you will also walk between a pair of colossal lion’s paws carved into the bedrock; the remains of an enormous Lion statue believed to have once covered the whole rock. Once at the top, you are rewarded with breath-taking 360-degree views for miles around and the network of gardens and reservoirs below, which together with the impressive ruins to explore, make the climb effort well worthwhile. It is recommended to climb the rock early in the morning to avoid the heat; either way, be sure to remember to take a bottle of water, sun protection and a hat!
From about the 5th century BC, the site was used as a rock-shelter monastery where its caves were prepared by devotees of the Buddhist Sangha. More can be learned about this time at the museum which is just outside the main entrance to Sigiriya. In the museum you will find interesting photographs of the excavation of Sigiriya, reproductions of the frescoes, translations of some of the graffiti found on the mirror wall and some of the artifacts excavated from the site.
courtesy – https://www.srilanka.travel