Sigiriya -- ( The Lions Rock ) The 8th wonder of the World

(This was filmed from the bottom of the rock. The zoomed pics at the top of the rock are all from here. This an unbelievable place.. couldnt believe the workmanship and the fact that a kingdom was here on top of a rock. How magnificient would have been then...Pl watch in 720HD.
Hope you will get some insight from this video..)

Sigiriya -- ( The Lions Rock ) The 8th wonder of the World
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Ancient City of Sigiriya in Sri lanka - UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Sigiriya, the spectacular 'Lion rock' fortress, stands majestically overlooking the luscious green jungle surroundings, and is one of Sri Lanka's major attractions.

Sigiriya is a major archaeological site in North Central Sri Lanka. At Sigiriya we find the ruins of an ancient palace complex built during the reign of King Kasyapa. It has been ascribed by UNESCO as one of the seven World Heritage Sites in Sri Lanka.

Probably the most recognizable feature in Sri Lanka is the spectacular rock fortress of Sigiriya. Originally built in 477 A.D. as an impregnable fortress and palace, Sigiriya was later used as a monastic refuge in the 16th and 17th centuries. The rock dramatically rises 200 meters above the surrounding plains and it is a wonder to imagine how they managed to carry up the materials necessary for its construction. At the base lies the remains of the royal rock and water gardens in what once was the lush pleasure gardens of the royalty. The most significant feature of the Rock would have been the Lion staircase leading to the palace garden on the summit. Based on the ideas described in some of the graffiti, this Lion staircase could be visualised as a gigantic figure towering majestically against the granite cliff, facing north, bright coloured, and awe-inspiring.

Built in the 5 century AC this magnificent complex of geometrically laid gardens, pools, fountains (still working today) as well as oldest surviving murals of maidens has been a palace of the King Kasyapa. About halfway up the rock is the sheltered gallery of frescoes painted on the sheer rock face. Some of them are still in remarkably good condition. Only 22 out of an estimated 500 pictures now remain.

The Sigiriya rock fortress was built by King Kasyapa, a son of King Dhatusena. As legend goes, King Dhatusena was overthrown and walled in, alive by Kasyapa in 473 AD. Mogallana, Dhatusena's son by the true queen fled to India, vowing revenge.

Kasyapa fearing an invasion built this impregnable fortress at Sigiriya.

When the invasion finally came in 491, Kasyapa rode out to battle in his war elephant.In an attempt to out-flank his half-brother, Kasyapa took a wrong turn, where his elephant got stuck in the mud. His soldiers, thinking Kasyapa was retreating fled abandoning him, and he took his own life.

Sigiriya later became a monastic refuge, but eventually fell into disrepair.

Category:

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• Mountains
• Rocks

[arabiannight100]

hahaha i miss this lovely place But i couldnot see it

i got tired in the middle of the steps LOL

i loved sri lanka and the sri lankan people were peace polite educated great people

love and respect from arabia

[lmmsl]

@arabiannight100 I too got tired and couldn't climb to the top..Hehe..Yes as you said it is an amazing place to see and Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with nice poeple..Many thanks for your visit and commments my dear..

Wish you peace and happiness always..

Greetings from UK

[Ahathian]

i've been there in august. its just amazing

[lmmsl]

@Ahathian I am really happy that you went to see this amazing place and thanks for your visit and comments..All the best...

[Ahathian]

@lmmsl do you work there? i mean at sigirya?

[lmmsl]

@Ahathian No, I don't work there and I also went for a holiday...

[farooqmm1987]

@sarrazinmars amazing sri lanka!

[nimesh104]

@ratchamal i love my country too

[nimesh104]

@sathasiva1885 although i am srilankan i never had visited now i am 10 years still no

[nimesh104]

@lmmsl thanks :) 

[nimesh104]

@arabiannight100 nice to hear that i am a srilankan

[ratchamal]

i climbed it several time.... last time around i climbed it within 7 minutes and i was drop dead with sweat..... good times.... i love my country

[sathasiva1885]

I climbed to the top.