Sigiriya, The Legendary Rock Fortress
Sri Lanka, an island nation off the coast of India
, has a recorded history stretching back more than 2,500 years and accordingly has a rich cultural heritage. The Sinhalese form the majority of the population with Tamils, Moors, Malays, and the indigenous Veddahs forming the minorities. Sri Lanka is renowned for the production of tea, with other natural products including coconuts, rubber, coffee and cinnamon. However the economy is steadily expanding in the manufacturing and service sectors. Sri Lanka is a major tourist destination by virtue of its picturesque landscape, beaches and forests as well as its cultural monuments.Sigiriya is a historical rock fortress with the remains of a palace located in the Matale District of Sri Lanka. It is encircled by the ruins of an expansive network of reservoirs, gardens and other ancient structures. Sigiriya is noted for its frescoes, ancient paintings, which have survived to the present day.
Many colourful legends are recounted about the origin of the Sigiriya fortress and palace. The builder of the fortress is said to be King Kasyapa, who killed his father and usurped the throne that rightfully belonged to his brother Moggallana. Moggallana fled to India where he raised an army to regain the throne of Sri Lanka.
Kasyapa, fearing Moggallanas imminent return, moved his residence to the secure Sigiriya rock, where he built the palace, gardens and other constructions. Eventually Moggallana arrived with his army and during the battle Kasyapas army deserted him, forcing Kasyapa to commit suicide. The area was later used as a Buddhist monastery.
Despite the age of the constructions, the magnificence of the palace bears testimony to the skill and artistry of its builders. The gardens of Sigiriya are considered to be among the most ancient landscaped gardens in the world. The Sigiriya frescoes, generally thought to picture either apsaras (heavenly maidens) or women of the kings harem are renowned for their beauty and painting techniques. Another famous feature is the Mirror Wall, once so well polished that the king could see his reflection in it. The Sigiriya graffiti, consisting of verses written on the Mirror Wall by visitors of all sorts (some dated to the 8th century) is another highlight at the site.
Among Sri Lanka hotels, those of the John Keells Hotels Group are an exclusive choice. Located at several Sri Lankan tourist venues as well as Colombo, there is no better option in Sri Lanka travel for the discerning visitor.
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