"Sigiriya - Rock Frostress" Top 5 Page for this destination Sigiriya by Oscar_Nonis

Sigiriya Travel Guide: 103 reviews and 266 photos

Sigiriya - Lion Rock

Sigiriya dates back from over 7,000 years ago, through Pre-Historic to Proto-Historic to Early Historic times, then as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 3rd century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the sangha.

The garden city and the palace was built by Kasyapa 477 - 495 AD. Then after Kasyapa's death it was a monastery complex upto about the 14th century.

The Mahavamsa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, describes King Kasyapa as a parricide, who murdered his father King Dhatusena by walling him up alive and then usurping the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana. To escape from the armies of Mogallana, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya, but Mogallana finally managed to get to Kasyapa and he committed suicide.

However, there is also another version of the Kasyapa story, related by one of the most eminent historians of Sri Lanka, Prof. Senerat Paranavitana. He claims to have deciphered the story of Sigiry, written by a monk named Ananda in the 15th cent. AD. this work had been inscribed on stone slabs, over which later inscriptions had been written. Till to date no other epigraphist has made a serious attempt to read the interlinear inscriptions.

top of the rock

at the top of Sigiriya

This is under construction and I wish to complete this section soon. if you need any further details please don't hesitate to contact me.

This is under construction and I wish to complete this section soon. if you need any further details please don't hesitate to contact me.

This is under construction and I wish to complete this section soon. if you need any further details please don't hesitate to contact me.

Paintings of Sigiriya

Last visit to Sigiriya: Feb 2003
Intro Updated Jul 9, 2004
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Reviews (6)

Hotel Sigiriya Hotels (2)

The rooms are arranged in discrete rows along tree-covered courtyards. Simple and gracious, the unpretentious... more travel advice

Sigirya Village Hotels (2)

The hotel has been carefully developed not to disturb the forest. The rooms are individual cottages arranged in six... more travel advice

Boulder Garden Things to Do (4)

The boulder garden at a higher level from the symmetrical water garden is a totally different organic or asymmetrical... more travel advice

Sigiriya Frescoes Things to Do (4)

Though traces of plaster and pigments occur all over this area, only two pockets of paintings survive. These are in a... more travel advice

Comments (12)

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victorwkf Aug 30, 2007 at 11:04 PM

Great tips on the famous Sigiriya rock of Sri Lanka, hope to be able to visit this historical place one day!
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Pablos_new Mar 23, 2006 at 11:10 PM

Sigiria Rock is the real wonder! Happy Birthday, Oscar! Good luck!
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nathicka Dec 18, 2005 at 2:21 PM

WOW nice pics and alot of info. THANK´S again !!!!!
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bijo69 Apr 2, 2005 at 5:32 AM

Yes, Sigiriya is such a beautiful place! Thanks for looking at my HP!
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mtncorg Dec 27, 2004 at 9:18 AM

A magical place hidden away in the center of the island. A definite must see for Sri Lanka.
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call_me_rhia Oct 13, 2004 at 12:25 PM

helpful hotel tips.. thanks
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sylvie-uk Sep 17, 2004 at 8:34 AM

interesting page. well done
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aussiedoug Sep 4, 2004 at 2:41 AM

Excellent page & tips Oscar. You do your country proud. Regards from downunder. See my VT mate Dave (laughingsun69) has been here just b4 me.
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laughingsun69 Aug 31, 2004 at 1:28 AM

Hi looks fasinating ,great information and photos !
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irisbe Oct 17, 2003 at 4:37 AM

wish to go back here and now armed with a good digital camera :-) and thousands of gigabites of memosticks `-)