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All Sri Lanka Sigiriya Sigiriya

Sigiriya

An ancient stone fortress considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world.

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

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Sigiriya   Amila Tennakoon/CC BY 2.0
  Public Domain
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Elisabeth Vitouch / Atlas Obscura User
  Elisabeth Vitouch / Atlas Obscura User
When I was there in the nineteen-seventies, the beautiful “cloud-girls” have been there - are they still visible or “gone with the wind”?   Elisabeth Vitouch / Atlas Obscura User
View of the terraced plateau atop the rock fortress   lindsaysuzanne / Atlas Obscura User
  Apocalypse Yana / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Sigiriya lion’s paws   Patti Neves / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
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About

An ancient stone fortress used by a king of Sri Lanka as a place to build his palace and hide from his brother's attacks, Sigiriya (The Lion Rock) is often considered the eighth wonder of the world. Situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, the fortress is surrounded on all sides by the remains of an extensive network of reservoirs and gardens. These gardens are believed to be some of the oldest landscaped gardens anywhere in the world.

The Lion staircase leading to the palace garden at the top of the rock is the most significant feature of this geological masterpiece. An intricate construction, the Lion staircase is a tile-covered walkway that emerges from the open mouth of the beast from which it takes its name and is built of brick and timber. The bricks surround ancient limestone steps.

Named a world heritage site by UNESCO, this rock is full of archeological importance. The other primary feature that draws thousands of tourists every year is the surviving frescoes and other paintings. The few paintings that survive are the earliest examples of a Sri Lanka school of classical realism, which was fully formed by the 5th century when the paintings at Sigiriya were produced. There are also remains of paintings in some of the caves that are nestled at the foot of the giant rock.

According to ancient texts, the entire rock fortress was built by King Kashyapa and, after his death, was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Today it is a popular tourist destination and one of the first places added to Sri Lanka itineraries. The climb is accessible to people of all ages and levels of fitness.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Cultures And Civilizations Geology Nature

Know Before You Go

Sigiriya is situated 17km from the popular town of Dambulla. It is a relatively easy climb, but it can take up to an hour to complete due to the crowds. The main difficulty is the heat, so it is recommended to arrive early in the morning. The best time to visit Sigiriya is between January and April due to the favourable weather and to avoid monsoon season. Tickets are around US$ 30. No special dress code is required, but sensible shoes are recommended.

Community Contributors

Edited By

esmetravels, Elisabeth Vitouch, Patti Neves, DanHoroTravelMemories...

  • esmetravels
  • Elisabeth Vitouch
  • Patti Neves
  • DanHoroTravelMemories
  • Max Cortesi
  • Apocalypse Yana
  • Meg
  • lindsaysuzanne
  • 9phgfn2qzf
  • Lee Scott

Published

December 29, 2010

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Sources
  • Wikipedia: Sigiriya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigiriya
  • UNESCO: World Heritage Convention: Ancient City of Sigiriya: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/202
  • World Heritage Site Sigiriya: Sigiriya The Lion Mountain: http://saadhu.com/sigiriya/
  • http://www.wellknownplaces.com/sigiriya-rock-fortress-ancient-fortress-like-no.html
  • https://trippingunicorn.com/pt/blog/o-que-fazer-no-sri-lanka
  • https://horotravelmemories.com/sigiriya-climbing-tips/
Sigiriya
Sigiriya
Sri Lanka
7.95, 80.75
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