The somewhat small island of Sri Lanka, off the southern tip of India, has a bounty of magical places that each hold many wonders laden with culture, heritage, and exceptionally beautiful scenery for visitors to enjoy, and one of these wonders that is consistently mentioned and visited, is the mystical Sigiriya rock. A place that is deeply immersed in history and containing remnants of a civilization that was incredibly ahead of its time.
Sigiriya is located quite literally at the very heart of Sri Lanka, near the epicentre of the island in the central Matale district off the town of Dambulla. Given the major flow of visitors to this area simply to witness and experience the magic of Sigiriya, various establishments have been placed to provide accommodation and lodging, such as the luxurious Hotel Sigiriya. Arguably, if one is visiting this place, the very top item on your list of things to do in Sigiriya, would be to climb it, for it is the only way to truly enter the magical realm contained within it.
The six hundred and fifty foot high rock is the foundation on top of which King Kasyapa decided to build his palace. The walls beside the steps leading up to the palace are adorned with frescoes that are typical of civilizations of that time but one of the most prominent and significant aspects of Sigiriya is the gateway in the form of an enormous lion that was built half-way up the mountain.
Overall, Sigiriya is an example of the innovative approaches ancient civilisations had towards urban planning, architecture, gardening as well as their uses of highly advanced hydraulic technology. So if you’d like to experience a unique chapter of the world’s history, you know where to go.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+
