Sigiriya or Sinhagiri, also known as Lion Rock, is a large rock column about 200 meters high, an ancient rock fortress located in the Northern Matale region of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.
Image credit: Traces of History and Archeology and Art
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri; the Eighth Wonder of the World in Sri Lanka; Lion Rock Tourism
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri, is refered by locals as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is a site which has historical and archaeological importance, this massive rock column stands over 200 meters high from the sea level. until the 14th century, this place was used as a Buddhist monastery, one of the best tourist places to visit in Sri Lanka.
According to the ancient Sri Lankan Culavamsa chronicles, it was chosen as the capital by King Kasyapa (477-495 AD). The king built his palace on this rock and adorned the sides with colourful frescoes.
Sigiriya was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982 and is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient city planning.
According to Wikipedia, the historical past of Sigiriya is mentioned as "The environment around the Sigiriya may have been inhabited since prehistoric times. There is clear evidence that the many rock shelters and caves in the vicinity were occupied by Buddhist monks and ascetics from as early as the 3rd century BCE. The earliest evidence of human habitation at Sigiriya is the Aligala rock shelter to the east of Sigiriya rock, indicating that the area was occupied nearly five thousand years ago during the Mesolithic Period."
"Buddhist monastic settlements were established during the 3rd century BCE in the western and northern slopes of the boulder-strewn hills surrounding the Sigiriya rock. Several rock shelters or caves were created during this period. These shelters were made under large boulders, with carved drip ledges around the cave mouths. Rock inscriptions are carved near the drip ledges on many of the shelters, recording the donation of the shelters to the Buddhist monastic order as residences. These were made in the period between the 3rd century BCE and the 1st-century CE". - Wikipedia says.
