The first time I visited Sigiriya is more a memory of my parents than mine, as I was around a year old at that time. They keep recounting the story of how one of my father’s colleagues had offered to carry me up the mountain, during an office trip with family, as my parents had their hands full with my siblings. I think their memory of Sigiriya is associated with the subsequent scare they received when my father’s colleague took off running up the mountain, after I was handed over, and my parents feared that I was going to be dropped.
My own memory of Sigiriya is a more pleasant one as it was a trip I took with my friends during the first year of my undergrad years. It was a fun trip though I remember it being terribly hot and crowded, as we climbed up the rock. I think the climb is best experienced early in the morning.
Sigiriya, the UNESCO heritage site, is a rock fortress built in the 5th century by King Kashyapa whose story is reminiscent of Shakespeare’s Macbeth complete with greed for power, murder, revenge and battle. However gory Kashyapa’s life might have been, the ruins of the fortress he built are a marvel to see as are the gardens, which are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.
Some of the unique features of the rock fortress are the mirror wall and the frescoes. The mirror wall is said to have been highly polished enough to see one’s own reflection during the King’s time but subsequently became a place for visitors to scribble verses. Some of the earliest verses scribbled on by visiting vandals date back to the 8th century. While those ancient verses have become part of the treasured archaeological site, today’s scribbler could find himself or herself in jail. The famed Sigiriya frescoes are the remains of murals that survived time, exposure and vandalism. Only a handful remain in the cave though it is believed that there had once been thousands of them.
View of Sigiriya from Kandalama Hotel, 2010
This post is a photo tour of Sigiriya, as seen through the lens of my friend, Nishanie Jayamaha, during her more recent visit. Nishanie tells me that she finds the engineering aspect of Sigiriya a marvel, some of which are still in working condition. She especially mentions the hydraulic technology that was used to pump water from ground water sources up to the pools at the top of the rock.
View of the rock from the fountain gardens, photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Sigiriya frescoes, photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Surviving Sigiriya frescoes, photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Ruins of the palace at the top of the rock, photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
View of the water gardens from the top, photo credit: Nishanie Jayamaha
Despite the dark and ugly history behind the creation of Sigiriya, the ruins of the ancient city remains an architectural marvel and one of the most visited sites in Sri Lanka.
Have you visited Sigiriya? What feature of the ancient rock fortress fascinates you the most?
[I am linking this post to The Weekly Postcard]
Laurence really enjoyed his time at Sigiriya – I think he has visited twice. We were in Sri Lanka earlier this year but didn’t go since he’d already been, but I would love to go another time! ~ Jessica
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I hope you do get to visit Sigiriya as well, Jessica.
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Sigiriya – a name with a strange resonance. There is an air of mystery that surrounds the ruins on the palace at the top of the rock. And the fog seems to add up to it too.
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There is indeed an air of mystery about the life of the King, who built his fortress on top of the rock, which probably permeates through the ruins.
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Sigiriya looks amazing Ahila
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It sure is!
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Wow, I actually had not heard of Sigiriya. It looks amazing and very deserving of its UNESCO designation. The views and ruins look so impressive, I need to read up on the history. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
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Sigiriya is certainly a must-visit place when you travel to Sri Lanka, Anisa!
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Thanks for sharing my views Ahila. One of my most favourite places in Sri Lanka is Sigiriya..
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Thanks for letting me feature your beautiful photos of Sigiriya, Nishanie!
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Extreme heat! That’s what I remember about Sigiriya. Not enough water, and no shade to escape the blistering sun. Still, it was an incredible experience. I loved (almost) every minute of it!
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Yes, Sigiriya is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and can be overwhelming especially during the dry season. Glad to hear that you enjoyed the visit, despite the heat.
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It looks beautiful, I would love to visit Sri Lanka one day! 🙂 #TheWeeklyPostcard
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I hope you do get to visit Sri Lanka someday! Looking forward to your beautiful photos of Sri Lanka 🙂
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Sigiriya is such a beautiful icon of the Sri Lankan landscape. We didn’t make it there on our last visit which is a shame but I am so looking forward to revisiting Sri Lanka and exploring this region. Love the “vintage” photos 🙂
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Thank you, Katy, and I hope you do visit Sigiriya during your next visit to Sri Lanka!
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The frescoes are incredible! Thanks for sharing!
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The frescoes are supposedly in the style of the Ajantha frescoes. Haven’t visited Ajantha and Ellora yet but hope to someday. Thanks for stopping by, Rashmi.
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