A few months ago we had the opportunity to explore the incredible island of Sri Lanka: its beaches, cities and historical places. Of all the cultural stops we made, the Fortress of Sigiriya Rock, also known as the Lion's Rock I found one of the most impressive.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
The Rock of Sigiriya was one of our visits that we had organized with Reddot Tours through the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka, an area that brought the history of Sri Lanka to life in a very fascinating way. The Cultural Triangle encompasses the north-central cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Dambulla, where extensive archaeological ruins offer a glimpse into the island's history, dating back to the 4th century BC. It is here that the kings of Sri Lanka notably developed civilizations. advanced including Sigiriya. The extensive archaeological ruins of the Cultural Triangle are now protected by UNESCO as World Heritage sites.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
It is not often that people say they are going to "visit rock formations" when asked about what they are going to do on their vacation - a curious fact given that we have spent time and money doing exactly that, be it Cappadocia in Turkey, Yosemite In the United States, the Torre del Diablo or Devil's Tower is also the United States or even Machu Picchu in Peru.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
Sigiriya is an ancient city located approximately 160 kilometers northeast of Colombo, making the trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site relatively short - about a three-hour drive from Colombo. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress was once a royal palace and in turn a striking example of what ancient Sri Lankan town planning was like. Graceful gardens, huge protective moats, graceful fountains and gutters, built-up paths, and still-standing paintings are just some of the features of Sigiriya rock. However, the icing on the cake is the royal palace located on top of the gigantic Sirigiya Rock, also known as Lion Mountain or Lion's Rock.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
Brief History
As I have mentioned in other articles about Sri Lanka, when hiring the chauffeur services with reddot Tours, we had a driver who in turn was a tour guide, with which, with each important stop, he accompanied us part of the journey telling us all about the history of each place, without a doubt it was a great success and a great advantage.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
Originally, as early as the 5th century BC Buddhist monks lived in the rock caves of Sigiriya and nearby. The construction of the gardens and palace occurred much later during the reign of King Kassapa I, King of Ceylon (477 - 495 AD). King Kassapa was a ruthless monarch who killed his father, King Dhatusena, and overthrew his older brother, Moggallana in order to rise to the highest power.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
The parricidal king Kassapa moved his capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya, where he built an opulent palace on a giant Sigiriya rock 200 meters high. From there he ruled for almost 11 years before being assassinated by the brother he had tricked into leaving him the throne. King Kassapa left a very tangible legacy; a well-planned, elegant and functional city that he created for his own enjoyment, and which, fortunately, can still be seen and enjoyed by visitors today.
Visit Sigiriya Rock
A minimum of a full day is required to explore Sigiriya Rock Fortress. If you're traveling in high season, it's best to get here early to maximize your time and not join the crowds of visitors that arrive every day. On the other hand, guided by our driver from Reddot Tours, we visit it in the afternoon, with the sunset to take advantage of the fiery light that December leaves and we also take advantage of the morning to visit the impressive Buddha of Aukana.
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| Sigiriya Rock Fortress |
To visit Sigiriya Rock, be sure to wear airy clothing, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. The Sigiriya complex requires visitors to climb dozens of stairs and corridors to reach the top of Lion Mountain and tour the palace ruins. The site also requires extensive walking on the trails that wind through the king's gardens.