Ancient City of Sigiriya

Buddhists anchorites had been established n the region since the 3rd century BC long before Kassapa sought refuge on the rock of Sigiriya, but the extent of this royal enterprise is astonishing. Kassapa the usurper reigned for 18 years from 477 to 495 and devoted seven of those years to building his citadel. Abandoned after little more than ten years of occupation when Kassapa committed suicide. It was re discovered in 1831. Sigiriya, the “Lion Rock” is both a fortified capital, a palace with gardens and a monastery, all built on an unusual site that combined a defensive stronghold with the comforts of royal life. The architects of the 5C excelled themselves and laid out one of the most beautiful gardens ever conceived. The whole site with its fortifications moats and gardens covers an area of more than 100 ha. An elegant perspective of a French style garden with stretches of water fed by a complex system of channels using the principle of interlinked containers. Only 21 Damsels survive in the long painted gallery which can be linked to a decorative wallpaper which once adorned the rock of Sigiriya. Only the top half of the body portrayed and it is probable that the lower half the body was concealed by mist or clouds to give the idea of creatures flying through the sky. The mirror wall ends in a terrace where the paws of a colossal brick lion, which once framed the bottom of the staircase, are all that is left of the Lion platform which led to the palace