Sigiriya rock sri lanka. Sigiriya (Lion Rock)

The next day, after the cave temples, we went to look at the main attraction of Sri Lanka Sigiriya. This is the undisputed number one of the most interesting places on the island, many even compare Sigiriya with Machu Picchu. It will be interesting for both nature lovers and connoisseurs of history.

First, a few words about the history of Sigiriya. Sigiriya is a rocky plateau with a height of 370 m, the height above the surrounding valley is almost 200 m. Translated from Sinhalese means "lion's rock". At the end of the 5th century, the King of Sri Lanka Kasapa built a fortress and his palace on the rock. The king was that type, according to later chronicles. He immured his father alive in the wall, and drove his brother, who by law was to inherit the throne, to India. But fearing his return and revenge, Kasapa just built this impregnable fortress.

However, as I understand it, no one knows the exact history of this place. It is extremely doubtful that in the short period of his reign, Kasapa managed to build such an impressive complex. Most likely, he really visited Sigiriya, in which he was before and after a Buddhist monastery, which owns most of the grandiose buildings. But everything that the guides will tell you should be skeptical. Over time, the monks left Sigiriya and everyone forgot about this place, until the British accidentally stumbled upon it at the beginning of the 19th century.

But now everything is in order. After visiting we spent the night in its vicinity. And in the morning we immediately went to Sigiriya, tk. it is advisable to visit it early before the onset of the heat of the day. Otherwise, climbing to a height of 200 meters will turn into torture. Fortunately, Dambulla and Sigiriya are only 30 km from each other, so we got there quickly.

At the entrance to Sigiriya, the monkeys were observed again. Here smart creatures have mastered the bungee. They swayed on vines and jumped from them into the lake. The spectacle is just a frenzy. The photo shows the moment when the monkey flops into the water.

I bathed and went to beg for food from tourists.

This time I decided to immediately take a guide from the ticket office. The guide cost $ 30. He promised to take us on an oath by some only known and longest route, and not a standard route for tourists. And, to check, the guide turned out to be the coolest of the whole trip. He told lies very enthusiastically and interestingly, without him Sigiriya would not be so impressive, I'm sure.

A very large area with gardens, ponds and fountains stretches in front of the rock.

From any point one can see the very rock on which we were to climb.

Following the guide, we went to the ascent to the top of Sigiriya. On the way, he told all sorts of stories that Kasapa was very loving and he had 500 wives or mistresses. The king's favorite pastime was to watch the whole herd splash in the pools around Sigiriya.

The rock is getting closer.

On the left is one of the guides, it is easy to recognize them by the same umbrellas in their hands.

The wasp warning is not a joke. Relatively recently there was a case when our (what else) tourists disturbed the nests and then the complex had to be closed for a couple of weeks, because just clouds of these evil insects were flying around.

The guide turned out to be great and did not deceive, we, indeed, separated from the main stream of tourists and made a hefty detour before the ascent. On the way, he told a lot and showed all sorts of interesting places, such as the gate in the picture below, but almost everything disappeared from his head in a year and a half.

Pay attention to the steps carved in stone, this is how they used to climb to Sigiriya.

The endless staircase to the top began from this place. According to the guide, this bench is Kasapa's throne, on which he waited for his porters to rest before the long ascent.

All right, it's time to go upstairs.

Remains of the tower, on which there were sentries, observing the surroundings in search of the approaching enemy.

We have not yet passed half the way, and already such beautiful views. On the right you can see the road along which we came from the entrance to the complex.

And here the main thing is not to miss the most beautiful place in Sigiriya. This climb leads to the famous frescoes. Be sure not to be lazy and go up there.

All for the sake of these unique girls boobs. Of the 500 original ones, only 18 remain, but even in this form, the drawings are striking. They are more than 1,500 years old, but still, thanks to a technology similar to porcelain, the paints have survived well. Who these madam are is not known for certain, the guide said that they were Kasapa's concubines. But in fact, there are many versions.

The place is very popular with tourists.

The next interesting place is the mirrored wall. At the time of Kasapa, it was polished to a mirror state. Walking through the gallery, the king could look into it. Now there are only a couple of areas that really seem to be mirrored.

We are getting higher and higher.

Remnants of some buildings. Gil said that this is the barracks for the Sigiriya guards.

And this structure is beyond doubt. Before us is one of Kasapa's defensive tricks. The stones under the rock were knocked out and this bulk fell on the attackers.

And, here we are at the home stretch. Remained the last, the most difficult part of the ascent along the almost vertical and eerie (in its unsteadiness) stairs. It was at this place that the main entrance to Sigiriya was. And he looked like a giant lion, into whose mouth a staircase led. Now only the paws are left of the lion.

A similar rock rises next to Sigiriya.

We rise from the lion's gate along a flimsy staircase to the very top to the Kasapa palace.

The views are getting smarter with every step.

Hurray, we crawled to the very top.

View of the ponds where Kasapa's 500 concubines splashed.

The buildings at the very top have not survived, only the foundations and pools. But it still inspires.

Kasapa was apparently very fond of water.

Once upon a time, artificial rivers and fountains flowed here. A separate topic is how the water was raised to such a height.

Sigiriya is one of the most visited attractions in Sri Lanka. Even the extortionate cost of an admission ticket does not stop a huge flow of tourists. The Lion Rock has no analogue not only in Ceylon, but probably in the whole of Asia, therefore, for many travelers the ancient city is a must see.

We, too, were not too lazy to make the difficult journey across the entire island, and in this article we will share practical information: what to see, how to get to Sigiriya, where to stay for the night.

What is Sigiriya

As the old, like the world, legend says - in the 5th century. a certain king Datusen decided to leave the throne to his beloved youngest son Mogallan. The eldest son Kasap did not agree with his father's decision, so he imprisoned the old man, and then killed him. Fearing that his brother's anger would overtake him, Moggallan went on the run.

Do you think that Kasapa began to live happily ever after? No matter how it is! He lived in fear and worried that one day his brother would return to take revenge. Fearing for his life, Kasapa built the impregnable city of Sigiriya, and erected a huge palace on a rocky plateau.

Despite the fact that only ruins remain of the former greatness, some functional solutions can still be seen. For example, pools on a rocky plateau that still retain water, ditches around the palace complex, and huge terraces with gardens.

According to the stories of historians, many centuries ago Sigiriya was a luxurious palace complex: with fountains, gardens, a large art gallery and subjects.

From the side of the western slope, you can still see the remains of ancient frescoes.

In this story, good defeated evil. Years passed, Mogallan gathered an army, overthrew his brother and destroyed his palace. After Kasapa's death, Sigiriya continued to exist until the XIV century, but as a Buddhist monastery. Since 1982 the ancient complex is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

How to get to Sigiriya

Given the lack of good roads, trains are perhaps the most convenient way to travel.

Going to Sigiriya from Colombo, you will need to make two transfers.

• The first is in, since there is no railway in Sigiriya. Colombo - Kandy trains leave every 1-2 hours, the schedule can be look here... On the way ≈ 4 hours. The fare in second class carriages is $ 2.

Sri Lankans do not distinguish between second and third class, but enter the carriage they like. Having paid for the fare in the second class, your trip will not become more comfortable. The exception is the first class, in such cars they are allowed strictly according to tickets, which indicate the seat.

• In Kandy, you need to change to a bus that goes to the town of Dambula. The fare is $ 1. The road will take approximately 2 hours. Departure from the railway station.

From Dambula to Lion Rock is already a stone's throw, only 20 km. This distance can be traveled by bus (runs about once an hour), or by tuk-tuk.

There are also direct buses from Colombo to Dambula, but we did not dare to take them.

• First, the roads in Sri Lanka are terrible;
• Secondly, the buses are too old and unreliable, and the drivers consider themselves to be skillful racers;
• Thirdly, public transport in Sri Lanka is constantly overcrowded, you run the risk of standing up.

Sigiriya is the most expensive attraction in Sri Lanka. Entrance for tourists costs $ 30 (3900 rupees), and for locals only $ 1. To be honest, I don’t even remember in what other country we paid so much to enter. But what can you do, there are no workarounds! Control is carried out in several places, so it is unlikely that it will be possible to slip through with a hare. Even if you slipped into the territory of the complex, you won't be able to climb the plateau without a ticket.

Opening hours: daily, 08.30 - 17.30

• The ascent to the plateau is quite difficult, try not to take a lot of things with you;
• Due to the high temperatures, the best time to visit is early in the morning;
• Do not forget about hats and sunscreen, on the plateau you will be in direct sunlight;
• I recommend taking water with you. After passing the control, they do not sell anything;
• There are no toilets on the plateau, so take care of this in advance;
• If you want to save money, you can buy a ticket for one for two and go inside one by one. Yes, it will be very long, but cheaper;

Accommodation in Sigiriya Sri Lanka

There will be no problems with housing in Sigiriya, but prices, however, as elsewhere in Sri Lanka, start at $ 25 per room. There are a lot of guesthouses and hotels in the area, you can agree on an overnight stay while in Sigiriya, or book a room online. According to my observations, the price on the site practically does not differ from the one that is called on the spot.

The most visited historical site in Sri Lanka - Sigiriya Rock - since 1982 has been protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The palace and fortress complex is recognized as one of the best examples of ancient urban planning.

The Sigiriya rock plateau is a powerful formation formed from the magma of an extinct and collapsed volcano. It rises 170 meters above the surrounding flat plain. The area around the rock has probably been inhabited since prehistoric times.

There is clear evidence that Buddhist monks and ascetics inhabited many caves and shelters in the area as early as the 3rd century BC.

In the 5th century, mountain monasteries began to be erected at the top of the Lion Rock, dotted with many caves and passages, which were a reliable refuge for their inhabitants.

The construction of the palace and fortress complex located on the top of the mountain took place during the reign of King Kashyapa (477-495 AD). According to historical chronicles, he immured his father, King Dhatussen, alive in the wall, seizing the throne, which by right should have passed to another heir to the king - Mogallan. To avoid the threatening death at the hands of his brother, Mogallan fled to India, where he began to gather an army against the treacherous relative.

Fearing an attack from Mogallan, King Kashyapa moved the capital and his residence from Anuradhapura to the safer Sigiriya. During his reign, it was developed into a complex city that became an impregnable fortress. Defensive structures and a palace decorated with colorful frescoes were erected on top of the cliff. On a small plateau at the entrance to the fortress, located halfway to the top, the king created a monumental gate in the form of a giant lion, carved into the rock, hence the name "Lion Rock". Endless gardens with ponds, canals, alleys and fountains were created around Sigiriya on an area of ​​about 140 hectares.

After some time, King Kashyapa, confident in his power, sent word to Moggallan that he wanted to fight him. Soon he responded to the offer and, accompanied by his army, returned to Sri Lanka in order to return the throne that rightfully belonged to him, which had been taken away by his cruel brother.

It is not known how it would have ended if it had not been for the intervention of the war elephant Kashyapa, who at the most decisive moment of the battle went to the lake to drink water. The army, seeing that their ruler was leaving the battlefield, decided to follow his example and fled. Left alone with the enemy army, the king, out of impotence and despair, thrust a sword into his chest.

Mogallan returned the capital to Anuradhapura, and gave Sigiriya to the Buddhist monks. The monastery existed there until the XIV century, after which it was abandoned. No information about the fate of Sigiriya was discovered until the 17th century, when it became an outpost of the Kingdom of Kandy.

Europeans discovered Sigiriya in 1831 when British Army Major Jonathan Forbes, returning from a trip with a detachment of 78 Scots, stumbled upon the site. After a while, archaeologists were interested in Sigiriya. Small archaeological work took place in the Sigiriya complex back in the 1890s, and the government of Sri Lanka began large-scale studies of the area in 1982.

The ancient complex built by King Kashyapa has survived in the vastness of Sigiriya to this day. It includes the remains of a fortress and palace, water and stone gardens, walls and moats, which are still beautiful and graceful. On the flat top of the rock are the ruins of the upper palace, the middle terrace houses the Lion's Gate and the Mirror Wall, and the lower palace is located on the slopes of Sigiriya. According to the descriptions of travelers, the front part of the Kashyapa palace, built of marble, was previously covered with precious stones.

Throne of the King:

The western part of the cliff is a unique sight - it is almost completely covered with amazing frescoes. In 1907, British scientist John Still, who explored the site, painted with images of naked women, called it the largest "art gallery in the world." The height of this area is 40 m, and the length is 140 m. In total, the architects of the king created 500 beautiful frescoes, but, unfortunately, only 18 have survived to this day. Many images were destroyed by monks when a Buddhist monastery was located here, so that they did not interfere concentrate while meditating.

Another famous Sigirian value is the Mirror Wall. In the old days, it was polished so thoroughly that walking near it, the king could see his reflection. The porcelain wall is covered with reflections and poems by visitors. The oldest inscriptions date back to the 8th century. Today it is forbidden to paint walls.

Sigiriya Gardens is one of the main attractions of the complex. They extend to the west of the cliff and are a symmetrically planned park, equipped with a complex hydraulic system, which consists of canals, locks, lakes, dams, bridges, fountains, as well as surface and underground water structures.

The gardens are divided into three distinct areas: rock gardens, water gardens and terraced gardens. King Kashyapa Water Gardens are located in the western part of the park. During the rainy season, all channels connecting rectangular reservoirs are filled with water, which begins to circulate throughout the territory. The Sigiriya fountains, built in the 5th century, are perhaps the oldest in the world. The pool area is surrounded by a beautiful garden with a rich variety of trees.

All paths in the royal park are oriented to the parts of the world; swimming pools are located on the right and left sides of them. When approaching the foot of the cliff on the terraces, you can see a large number of huge boulders of the most intricate shapes and sizes - these are the stone gardens of Sigiriya. Many boulders have steps that can be climbed.

The Lion Gate, which is a huge lion, whose mouth served as the entrance to the fortress, was practically destroyed. Only the paws of the animal survived, looking at their size, one can only imagine how large and majestic the figure of the animal, which today is the symbol of Sri Lanka, was.

When we talk about palaces, the imagination draws some kind of airy, almost weightless castles. But here is the palace, built in and which was taken under its protection by UNESCO, it is the only one in the world - it is carved on a huge rock. Translated from the Sinhalese language, the word sigiriya means "Lion Rock". It is considered one of the main attractions of the country. Mount Sigiriya Is a high plateau with a magnificent palace and fortress complex. It is surrounded by gardens, swimming pools, and many dilapidated ancient buildings. A long line of steps leads from the foot to the top - to get to the top of the cliff you need to overcome 2,100 degrees!

Mount Sigiriya - video

A bit of history

The history of Sigiriya began with the fact that Kasapa, in order to seize the throne (on the advice of his power-hungry and insidious wife), immured his father alive in the rock. And he erected a huge palace of Sigiriya to protect himself from his brother's revenge. But, fate turned out so that Kasap died in this impregnable palace: the enemies still got to him and when the king saw a huge army at the foot of the mountain, he cut his throat.

The scale of the city that surrounds the rock is simply amazing - its area is about 130 hectares. The most amazing part of the city is undoubtedly the Sigiriya rock, on which the royal palace was once located. Today only irrigation canals remind of the complex structure of this city and its unusual architecture. The royal residence was located on the top of the cliff, it was from there that the ruler enjoyed a beautiful view of the surroundings. Built in the 5th century, Kasapa's palace looked like a huge monumental building. Fortress of Sigiriya: many rooms, throne rooms - only their foundations have survived to this day, but even from their outline one can understand that there was something majestic here.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka - photos

Sigiriya travel guide

On a small observation deck (directly in front of the rock), the foundation has been preserved royal staircase... It was made in the shape of a lion's head - the mouth was open and the stairs led directly inside. Now only the paws are left of the lion. Kasapa did not choose the lion as a symbol of his power by chance - he believed that the sight of this animal instills sacred fear in his enemies. The lion's staircase was the last bastion before entering the castle. It is noteworthy that the king himself did not go up the stairs - a special lift was installed for him on the steepest section.

Tourists often consider Sigiriya a place of sinful carnal pleasures - the inhabitants of this palace spent their time in pleasures and carnal pleasures. It becomes clear why this place has such a reputation. The "Cave of Heavenly Maidens" leads to the top of the cliff, where there are numerous frescoes. One of the versions says that Kasapa's concubines are depicted on the frescoes, because the king had a very extensive harem. According to another, these are images of goddesses who allegedly descended from the sky to greet Kasapa. According to legend, 500 beautiful girls were depicted on the walls of this cave (the length of which is 40 meters). "Cave of the Heavenly Maidens" with frescoes of Sigiriya is the largest art gallery in the world. However, only 15 images have survived to us intact: when Kasapa died, monks came here to found a monastery on the mountain. Religious feelings leaped against the images of naked girls and the monks washed those frescoes that they could reach. But even those frescoes that remain are enough to appreciate the depth of the skill of ancient artists. Looking at the images of ancient beauties, one never ceases to be amazed at how well the frescoes have been preserved over the past 1,500 years. The peculiarity of these images, deliberately emphasized by the artist, should be noted - women have a very narrow waist and a magnificent bust.

Also of interest is the old wall, made of sand, granite chips and tree bark, which was previously used for defense. This wall is very old, so you cannot come close to it. It is notable for the fact that the chronicle of the state is written on it. The numbers on the wall indicate chapters (there are 60 of them in total), and in some places there are still inscriptions in the ancient Sinhalese language that tell an amazing story.

At the foot of the cliff with the royal palace, there are amazing and lush Sigiriya gardens... There are several types of these gardens - terraced gardens, rock gardens and water gardens. From the cliff, they stretch almost to the very horizon.

How to get to Sigiriya

Get to Sigiriya The most convenient way is to take a bus from to the city of Dambulla, and then change to a sightseeing bus that brings tourists directly to Sigiriya. Climbing up (having overcome all the steps) is not a test for the weak in spirit and in body. But those who decided to climb, a real miracle awaits at the top.

Sigiriya sightseeing map

Sigiriya on the map, panorama

Sigiriya (which means "lion rock") - a rocky plateau, rising 370 meters above sea level and about 170 meters above the surrounding plain in the very center of the island of Sri Lanka. Its base is a steep rock, which is formed from the magma of an extinct volcano that has long since begun to collapse. Since 1982, Sigiriya is under the protection of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This is a ruined ancient fortress located in the mountains, which still preserved the remains of palace buildings. The remains of the fortress are, unfortunately, also surrounded by the remains of a once extensive network of pools, gardens, and other structures. This destination is very popular among tourists coming to Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is also famous for its ancient frescoes - amazing half-naked women, whose images were applied with natural paints of a special composition.

The earliest mentions of Sigiriya date back to ancient times. In the scriptures that date back to the BC period, it is said that the fortress-monastery was built of pure gold, and the great Vishvakarman was the architect. Brahma presented her to the deity of wealth - Kubera. But very little time passed and the Rakshasa demons, whose ruler was the ten-headed monster Ravana, captured the island. For his pleasure, Ravana kidnapped the beautiful wife of the princes of Rama. Freeing his wife, Rama destroyed Ravana and happily ruled Sigiriya.

Legend has it that in the 5th century. AD Kasapa (reigned 477-495), the eldest son of King Datusena (459-477), was supposed to inherit the throne, but the father decided in favor of the younger son Mogallan (Kassapa's mother was a concubine). Kassapa was inflamed with hatred of his father and imprisoned him, and in 477 he participated in his death. Mogallana was horrified by the terrible deeds of his elder brother and fled to South India. Fearing revenge, Kassapa decided to build a capital in an inaccessible location. And he chose the Sigiriya rock.

The king ordered to clear the place around the rock and build a magnificent city, surrounded by gardens with fountains (perhaps the first in the world) and pools (which were filled with water during the rainy season). The most amazing staircases in the world were built: the steps were carved between the paws, throat and jaws of the incredible size of a lion. The image of a lion was used in the complex for a reason. In the art of India and Southeast Asia, the lion symbolized royal power, and in Buddhism - the Buddha himself. The royal palace (the so-called Upper Palace) was built on its flat top; now it lies in ruins. At the foot of the cliff, the Lower Palace was located, surrounded by defensive structures - walls and a moat filled with water

The citadel begins with the "lion platform", from which only paws remain. Steps lead to the 1.7 hectare terrace where the palace was once located. According to the description of travelers, the pediment of the palace, built of marble and surrounded by gardens and ponds, was lined with precious stones. The gigantic royal throne is well preserved. The gallery of frescoes and the "mirror wall" are impressive - at the time of King Kassapa it was so polished that the king, passing by, saw his reflection. The wall is made of a special kind of porcelain. Part of it today is "decorated" with inscriptions and poems left by visitors to the Lion Rock. The oldest inscriptions date back to the 8th century. Nowadays, "painting" the walls is prohibited. The frescoes depicting a procession of princesses or palace ladies as if floating in the air, and covered with a composition of egg white with honey from wild bees, retained their vibrant colors.

Unfortunately, out of 500 frescoes, only 18 have survived. Over 18 years of reign from the top of the cliff, Kassapa imagines himself to be the master of the universe. Confident in his strength, he sent word to his brother, who had returned from India with an army, that he wanted to fight him on the plain. But in the midst of the battle, Kassapa's elephant moved to the nearest pond to drink water. The army decided that the king was fleeing and began to retreat. Left alone, Kassapa cut his own throat. Mogallana destroyed the citadel, destroying the traces of the former master, and, taking power into his own hands, rebuilt the capital in Anuradhapura.

Sigiriya was inhabited in prehistoric times and was already used as a mountain monastery-refuge. It is believed that caves and monasteries appeared here around the 5th century BC.

Only after the death of the king, this place began to function again as a monastery and existed in this status until the 14th century, after which, for some unknown reason, it was abandoned. Further, right up to the 17th century, all mentions of Sigiriya disappear and appear again after the 17th century. But now this area is no longer called Sigiriya, but the Kingdom of Kandy. But, as if by magic, with the end of the reign of Kandy, people again leave the Lion Rock.

Archaeologists began their work here since the 1890s. Bell was the first archaeologist to conduct extensive research around Sigiriya. The Sri Lankan government began larger studies as early as 1982.

Tourists climb to the top along a rather narrow metal staircase. Therefore, for those who are afraid of heights, it is better to think five times before starting this ascent. Moreover, it will not be easy. Even a physically well prepared person goes up these three hundred meters in no less than 40 minutes. So, it is better to get rid of all unnecessary things at the foot of the mountain. Take with you only a camera and a bottle of drinking water. But those who have mastered the ascent, standing on its top of the mountain, if you "turn on" imagination, can imagine royal fountains, water gardens, "a brilliant combination of symmetry and asymmetry in the block of geometric planning" of the city and everything that existed in the distant V century to please gaze of the great Kassapa in all its past glory.

Opposite the entrance to the complex there is a road leading to the museum, if you have time, be sure to visit it. The main value of this museum is a three-dimensional model of the palace located at the very top. Having looked, you understand how majestic and thoughtful this structure was.

The best time to visit the complex is early in the morning until 10:00 a.m. the sun beats down mercilessly.

SIGIRIA IN THE PHOTOS. SRI LANKA