Located on the island of Sri Lanka, in the central province, Sigiriya is one of the most recognized places on the island and is of immense archeological and cultural significance. Sigiriya is an enormous rock that is more than two hundred feet in height. Legend has it that, the King of Sri Lanka during the time, King Kasyapa, chose the rock as the site to build his new capital, and proceeded to build his palace right on top of the notorious rock that is Sigiriya. The King proceeded to build a haven of sorts, and soon afterwards, built a gateway into the rocks and built the entrance in the form of an abnormally large lion. Following the King’s death, the site was used as a monastery till the late fourteenth century.
There are various places to stay if you are seeking an international visit to the glorious island of Sri Lanka. If it is a Sigiriya Hotel you seek, one of the closest that can be recommended is the Habarana Village by Cinnamon. Nowadays, Sigiriya consists of an ancient citadel that was built by Sri Lankans and is therefore very artistic and enjoys the concept of ancient Sri Lankan art work. The inner walls of the Chakraya are adorned with lavish paintings of ancient Sri Lankan cultures. The outside on the other hand, contains a unique concept like no other. Known as the ‘Mirror Wall’, it refers to the side of the mountain where an entire side of rock was made to be so shiny that the king was able to examine himself as he made his way up. The Sigiriya museum provides a detailed explanation of the history behind the great rock and provides an excellent overview through the use of many elaborately designed exhibits.
So if you ever find yourself in Sri Lanka, ensure that you don’t rob yourself of a chance to see the amazing Sigiriya.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
