Sri Lanka's Sigiriya Rock Fortress

What is Sigiriya?

The historic rock castle and palace known as Sigiriya is 660 feet straight up in the air and was constructed by King Kashyapa between 473 and 495. It is situated in Sri Lanka's central province's northern Matale district, close to the town of Dambulla. Before reaching the Lion Rock Fortress at the summit of Sigiriya, you must ascend 1200 steps, which is known as Sigiriya or the Sinhagiri. There are various platforms that divide the steps and provide space for a little rest if necessary. As one of Sri Lanka's most well-known archaeological treasures today, Sigiriya Rock Fortress was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 under the name "Ancient City of Sigiriya Sri Lanka."

Sigiriya Lion Rock's architectural design

With its exceptional mastery of ancient urban planning, landscape and architecture, construction technology, exceptional hydraulic engineering and management, and ancient fine art, the fortified garden city of Sigiriya rock fortress exhibits a unique harmony between nature and human imagination. These living proofs demonstrate that it was a well-planned city and palace in the fifth century AD. One of the best-preserved remaining first-millennium Asian historic urban structures, Sigiriya Rock Fortress is also known as a Living Museum. One of Sri Lanka's former political capitals and its most spectacular heritage monument, Sigiriya World Heritage Site has a diverse and multifaceted appeal.

Sigiriya Rock Fortress History

The beginnings of Sigiriya can be traced back to pre-historic times, according to historical study done at the location. A monadnock by the name of Aligala can be found at the foot of the Sigiriya rock on its eastern side (Elephant Rock). Excavations in a cave below this have uncovered the remains of prehistoric human communities that were present here roughly 5,500 years ago. Additionally, there is proof that this region was inhabited by people in the ninth and tenth centuries B.C.

At the Sigiriya rock fortification, a Buddhist monastery was founded in the third century B.C. At the base of the large rock, thirty drip-ledged cave shelters that can house monks have so far been located. Eight of them feature information about cave shelter donations written in Brahmi script. King Kasyapa (A.D. 477–495), who elected to make Sigiriya his seat of government, had all the major buildings that can be seen in Sigiriya today built during his reign. Sigiriya, according to renowned archaeologist Prof. Senerath Paranavithana, reveals the sensuality of a pleasure-loving king who based the city on the legend of god Kuvera's Alakamanda. Indian and Roman coins, as well as Sassanian dynasty pottery, were discovered.

Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress in 7th century AD

But later, in the 6th and 7th century A.D., Sigiriya lost its governmental significance and once more turned into a monastery for Buddhist monks. The drip-ledged cave shelters from the earlier monastic age were further developed during this time. Additional shrines were built, including a stupa, an image house, and a bodhi tree shrine. Up to the 12th and 13th centuries A.D., the monastery development was still in its second stage.

Sigiriya Rock in the 19th century

Sigiriya was completely forgotten for generations until the 19th century when the monarchs of Kandy used it as a military outpost. Later, Jonathan Forbes, a British military officer, was the one to resurrect Sigiriya from historical obscurity in 1832. The Archaeological Department started conducting archaeological work in Sigiriya in 1894 under the direction of H.C.P. Bell. The Central Cultural Fund took over the duty nearly a century later, in 1982, and has been doing so successfully ever since.

city planning of the Sigiriya rock fortress.

A lion's rock The western precinct of Sigiriya, which comprises 90 hectares, and the eastern precinct, which occupies 40 hectares, are both defended precincts. The western region was known as the "royal park area," a symmetrically planned pleasure garden with complex water-retention structures and surface and subsurface hydraulic systems. The rectangular area's inner precincts span roughly 700 meters from east to west and 500 meters from north to south. It is bordered by three ramparts and two moats.

The eastern region, which is on the opposite side of the Lion Rock in Sigiriya, appears to have been a ceremonial precinct with just a massive central pavilion as a permanent construction. Within these confines, Kasyapa and his family led their lives. There are a number of boulder gardens and subsequently terraced gardens that extend ever-increasingly inward from the two precincts until reaching the entrance to the Sigiriya rock. A lengthy passageway leading to the rock starts on the terrace gardens' western side and extends northward along the Mirror Wall to the Lion Platform.

Water Garden / Landscape & Gardening of Sigiriya

The Water Gardens stand out among Sigiriya's outstanding characteristics. Although the Water gardens initially appear to be a single garden system in concept, there are actually four unique elements that can be seen in their formation. At the moment, these parts are known as the Water Garden Nos. 1, 2, and 3, as well as the Miniature Water Garden.

Four enormous ponds in the shape of a "L" are symmetrically arranged in the Water Garden No. 1, creating an island in the center. It is known as "Char-Bagh" and is regarded as a particular element in ancient garden designs. The example in Water Garden No. 1 appears to be the oldest example still existing in the modern world. The Fountain Garden is another name for the Water Garden No. 2, which contains fountains. This Fountain Garden is bordered on either side by two summer residences. Visitors will be curious in the water supply used for the fountains. The answer can be found in the moats that were erected around the summer palaces and connected to secret underground tunnels that cleverly and unobtrusively supply the fountains. Located at a higher height, Water Garden No. 3 has and

Graffiti on Sigiriya Lion Rock

Sigiri graffiti, the Lion's Paw entrance, the Boulders Garden, the Mirror Wall, the Fresco Paintings of Female Figures, the Extensive Networks of Landscaped Garden, the Water Gardens, the Moats, the Ramparts, and the Remains of the Palace are the primary highlights of Sigiriya Rock.

At the lion rock. On the surface of the Mirror Wall at Sigiriya, graffiti was inscribed. Over 1800 works of literature, poetry, and criticism penned by long-ago travelers are scrawled on the wall. The history of Sigiriya and the 800-year evolution of the Sri Lankan language are both fascinatingly revealed by this graffiti. Most of the graffiti makes reference to stunning paintings of semi-naked women. These inscriptions attest to the fact that King Kashyapa lived here from 477 to 495 AD. The inscriptions also imply that the women portrayed in the frescoes are the ladies of the harem or the royal court of the King.

The graffiti includes expressions of wonder, professions of love, criticism, curses, regrets, journal entries, and simple greetings.

Many have a very high level of literacy and a profound appreciation for literature published in Tamil, Sinhala, and Sanskrit. We have received priceless insights into the past from these earliest scribblers. Out of the 685 people depicted in these paintings who have been recognized so far, 12 were women. More than half gave their names, many emphasized their social status, and some even mentioned their origins in Sri Lankan towns like Weligama and Ritigala. The majority of these guests appeared to be from the upper classes of society, including royalty, dignitaries, professionals, and the clergy. Soldiers, archers, and even metalworkers were present. Over a thousand distinct words have been found.

Boulder Garden of Lion Rock Sigiriya 

A sloped area surrounds the main rock in the Boulder Garden, which is peppered with boulders of varying sizes. The roads leading to the palace are arranged through the boulder garden as winding lanes that are broken up by the natural boulder arches. The Cistern Rock, gets its name from a sizable cistern made of a natural boulder and large granite slabs, the Audience Hall, where a five-meter-long main throne is carved out of living rock, the Preaching Rock, where a seat is carved out at the flattened edge of a fairly high boulder, and the Asana Cave, where a seat is carved out inside a natural cave are some of this garden's unique features. In this region, you may also discover rock caves with drip ledges and shrines that were used when Sigiriya was a Buddhist monastery. The Boulder Garden and Sigiriya Rock are separated by a high area known as the Terraced Garden of Sigiriya Lion Rock, which has been shaped into a series of roughly concentric terraces by stone retaining walls.

Lion Staircase

The Lion Staircase, which faces north and has two enormous lion paws in front, is the only way to reach the royal residence atop the Sigiriya rock. The remains of a lion figure's front portion that must have formerly stood there are this brick-and-plaster lion-paws.

Palace Complex of Sigiriya Lion Rock 

On top of the Sigiriya rock, there lies a palace complex that spans over 1.5 hectares. The royal palace, which is located to the west, is the main landmark there. To the east lies the palace garden, which has a sizable man-made pool as well as other garden features. A throne made of natural rock can be found on a rock facing the east beneath the palace.

Lion Rock Paintings

The pinnacle of Sri Lankan creative production is without a doubt the paintings from the fifth century A.D. Nineteen paintings of incredibly lovely damsels floating in clouds have been discovered in a depression on the western side of the rock face. However, 500 of these images were initially painted all over the western and northern rock sides, according to the Sigiri graffiti (verses scratched on the Mirror Wall throughout time).

The identities of the stunning women shown in these ancient works of art are the subject of numerous theories. They are Kasyapa's concubines, according to H.C.P. Bell, and they are carrying flowers to deliver as offerings as they travel to worship at the nearby Pidurangala temple. Ananda Coomaraswamy, a renowned researcher, claims that the damsels are Apsaras or goddesses. Prof. Senerat Paranvitana, a famous Sri Lankan archaeologist, gives a very creative explanation for the identification of the Sigiriya damsels, contending that they are symbolic depictions of rain clouds and lightning. In this understanding, the fair golden complexion of Vajji Kumari represents lightning, and the dark-skinned maidens (Meghalatha) represent rain clouds. In addition to these paintings, it also appears that paintings were present in the Caves in the Boulder Garden.     Paintings may clearly be seen at the Deraniyagala Cave, Cobra-hood Cave, and Asana Cave. Additionally, it has recently come to light those paintings once adorned the Mirror Wall's outside. Even though these paintings are completely fading, one woman can be seen who appears to be flying among clouds. During archeological excavation at Sigiriya, terracotta figurines that closely resemble the tire figures in the paintings were found. These could be copies of Sigiriya Damsals that were once offered to tourists as mementos, according to Prof. Senaka Bandaranayake, who oversaw the major archeological projects in Sigiriya.

How Sigiriya related to Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka ?

Cobra Hood Cave & Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka 

Cobra hood cave also known as the “Parumaka Naguliya Lena”, is a natural geological formation projected as a cobra hood located within the boulder garden of Sigiriya Rock Fortress complex with a plastered interior of the cave once embellished with floral and animal paintings. This is also part of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress complex (UNESCO World Heritage) 

According to Mr. Lal Srinivas and Dr. Mirando Obesekara's new Ramayana excavations at Lanka Pura, Sigiriya might be seen as King Ravana's posthistorical archaeological turning point. They contend that Sigiriya could be the Alakamandava, or City of the Gods, which was constructed 50 centuries ago by King Kuvera, who was King Ravana's half-brother as described in the Sri Lankan Ramayanaya Yatra.

The architect of the Sigiriya was a Danava named Maya Danava, according to the Palm Leaf Book (Puskola Potha) of Ravana Watha (Ravana Story). On the advice of King Visthavasa (Vishravasamuni), the father of Ravana, he constructed Sigiriya. During that time, Sigiriya was known as Alakamandava, and under King Kuwera, it was known as Cithranakuta. Following Ravana's demise, Vibeeshana ascended to the throne and moved the kingdom to Kelaniya.

The cave has likely been used as a Buddhist monastery or monks' residence based on the man-made drip ledge and 3rd century B.C. Brahmi inscription connected to it. The geometrically composed paintings on the rock ceiling feature floral and stylized animal patterns. The cave's brick-paved floor has lime plaster on it for the finishing touch. The rock that is attached to the cave was cut from the mother boulder and resembles a cobra's hood. In front of the cave, a fragment of the boulder that has fallen off is still visible.

As a result, scholars think that Sigiriya and the Ramayana are related. The spectacular palace of Ravana, constructed of solid gold some 50 centuries ago by Kubera, the God of Wealth, is thought to have been located on the plateau's summit. You could see what a significant architectural achievement this place was just by looking at the site. In one of these caverns, as is widely thought, King Ravana imprisoned Princess Sita after her kidnapping.

At Sigiriya's Cobra Hood Cave, a skeleton was found. Nine human remains have been found as a result of the archaeological excavations done at the rock shelter. Sigiriya's excavations What looks to be a Middle Historic Period burial site was unearthed at Cobra Hood Cave. Nine people's skeletal remains were discovered during the excavations. According to this study, these people were young, healthy adult males who were at least 152 cm tall at the time of their deaths. The traditional position for burial has been in an extended, west-to-east stance with the hands clasped in front and the face facing south. There were no ceremonial artifacts or funeral offerings discovered.