Sigiriya, the eighth wonder of the world is a magnificent historical monument standing tall (about 180m in height) in the heart of Matale district in Sri Lanka. The rock is the remains of the hardened magma neck of an old volcano eroded billions of years ago. This archeologically important site contains ruins of an ancient royal complex believed to be initially built by King Kashyapa as a safe hiding place from his brother’s invasions and developed using unbelievable architecture and technology later during his reign (AD 477 – 495). The name ‘Sigiriya’ or ‘Sinhagiri’ (Lion Rock) is said to be derived from the giant gateway built in the shape of a lion at the entrance to the palace. Sigiriya rock and the royal city complex account for unique and exceptional landscaping and were declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1982.
King Kashyapa had wanted to build his kingdom similar to ‘Alakamandawa’ which was believed to be the prosperous city of the Gods. This vision and inspiration led him to give life to this wonder! The main points of attraction within this well-preserved site are the ruins of the ancient city complex surrounding the rock fortress, the Lion Gate entrance leading the visitors towards the palace through an open mouth of a lion, the walls along the way up painted with colorful frescoes, the mirror wall engraved with lyrical poems and the interconnected garden complex exhibiting exemplary use of architecture and technological advancements. The beauty, mystery, and majesty of the Sigiriya rock attract thousands of both local and international visitors each year.