The Lonely Rock

Sigiriya - SRI LANKA

This magnificent rock once a fortress and then a monastery is surrounded by a moat and beautiful water gardens with pathways and with a lot of history dating back to AD 477 – 495, is something worthwhile spending time to see. It is been canvassed to get the status of the 8th wonders of the world. You enter through the water gardens with fountain that work to date during rainy season has a complex underground water system that provide water to the royal pools. The 22 beautiful frescos of the damsels on the wall which are half way up the rock are a few left from the 500 frescos that was believed to have been painted are said to be the same style as the Ajantha caves in India. The mirror wall with graffiti mostly inscribed between the 7th and 11th Century AD. It is so beautiful and could be seen from the bottom of the rock. Further up, you land at the lions paw which is a part of a once a gigantic brick lion with the entrance through his mouth to the summit of the rock. The ruins of the foundation above show what beautiful buildings it would have once had. The pond scooped out of solid rock is overwhelming and the throne made of a solid rock faces the rising sun. The view from top of the rock is breathtaking. There are visitors from all over the world flock to this as it truly a place to visit.



Near Sigiriya are other places of interest that are worthwhile visiting. A beautiful temple with Buddha statues built inside a caves built in 1st century BC is known as the Dambulla cave temple is a not only historical it is also very pictures. A total of 153 Buddha statues and 3 statues of kings and 4 statues of gods are spread over 5 caves. The walls and the ceilings of the caves are covered with murals depicting Buddhist stories. The monastery is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka.