Long long time ago – around the 5th century AD, on an island covered in a thick jungle, now known as Sri Lanka, there once lived a king who built his entire kingdom surrounding a towering rock and at the summit of this rock, his fortress; known as Sigiriya.
The story begins here…
Kashyapa was the eldest son of King Dhatusena. However, despite being the eldest, he was not born completely royal – his mother was the king’s concubine. However, King Dhatusena had another son after Kashyapa; Mogallana; the rightful heir.
The plan
Completely jealous of Prince Mogallana, King Kasyapa with the help of the angry army commander of the King’s set forth to seek revenge. Migara, the army commander sought to ensure that Kashyapa rebelled against the king in a bid to get the throne for himself.
The Coup
With the help of Migara, a palace coup was set in motion to overthrow the king and the throne was usurped in 473 AD. Prince Mogallana fled to India fearing being killed by Kashyapa.
Sigiriya
After killing his father, Kashyapa sought refuge in the jungle when he found a lion-shaped rock. He built his citadel here with his palace constructed at the peak. His kingdom included acres of water gardens, a mirror wall, etc.
Visit
Stay at a nearby hotel such as Water Garden Sigiriya and climb this towering rock early in the morning as it has become one of the most iconic things to do in Sigiriya.
Filled with wanderlust that seeks to explore distant shores and captivated by the colors and vibrancy of exotic cultures, Kanya Mae writes on the beautiful, exciting, and enchanting wonders of the world. She is a writer who not only has a passion for travel, but also has a background in fashion, art and media. Google+
