FORTRESS IN THE SKY SIGIRIYA

SIGIRIYA

19kms north east of dambulla is sigiriya the lion rock,which is a major tourist attraction of the island. some say that it was really the palace of emperor ravana but later occupied by king kashyapa. but srilankan chronicles tell a totally different  story.the mahavansa says king kashyapa murdered his father dathusena,and younger brother muggallana swearing revenge fled to india. this was reason for kashyapa to find safe place and he choose this isolated rock for his palace and fortress.

finally when muggallana returned with an army,kashyapa left his stronghold and came down to lead the battle.kashyapa advancing on an elephant suddenly turned the animal to avoid a swamp and his troops deserted him assuming that the king retreating in fear.to avoid becomeing a prisoner of his brother  he took the only option at hand and committed suicide. he left behind an amazing masterpiece of art and architecture that the whole island is proud of.if one presumes that sigiriya was just another fortress,that would not do justice this historic place.

he had built a magnificent palace on top of a rock 200mtrs high,380mtrs above sea level. the complex is as beautiful as the ancient castles one observes along the river Rhine in Europe a top massive cliffs.the approach is across  the palace water garden passing the royal bathing pools.step cut mostly into the rocks take you in between massive boulders.half-way up are the famous 1500year old painted frescos that could be seen by going up a spiral staircase.the 5th century paintings are on per with those of ajantha and allora in india.  

next to the frescos is the mirror wall, a sort of an autograph album where the viewers make their comments. it would take volumes to write about the wonders of sigiriya.just step through the lions jaws and enter this wonderland. the atmosphere takes you back to the days when topless maidens strode in the moonlight at night, where a king supervised frescoes being painted,where decisions to do battle, to kill,to love around in history, merged in folklore of an ancient age.still,ironically, it is kashapa,the god king,who stands tall through it all and has the sentiments of the masses.

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