Big Rock (Sigiriya ~ Sri Lanka)

January 2020

Sigiriya is almost at the center of Sri Lanka and is perched on top of a large rock that rises dramatically from the surrounding plains and was the epicenter of the Kingdom of  Kassapa (while it lasted).

Surrounding the rock is a beautiful landscaped (and restored) area of terraces, formal water gardens and Buddhist shrines.

About halfway to the top of the rock there are some stunning well preserved frescos that date back to the 5th century. Though have to say the artist was a tad single minded when he (and I fairly sure it was a he) drew them.

Just past the frescoes is what is known as the Mirror Wall" - a 3m high wall constructed parallel to the rock face that was coated with a smooth glaze. Such a wall was of course a magnet for graffiti and messages and signatures inscribed tend to date from 6th to the 14th century. Woe betide any tourist whom was stupid enough to try and add there own inscription.

At the northern end of the rock about two thirds of the way up is the remains of a massive lion. When originally constructed in the 5th century the gigantic brick lion covered a large chunk of the face of the rock wall and the stairs up passed through it's paws and then through the lions mouth.

Some of the accessway up the rock face was a bit unnerving and the last climb up to the top down right tricky.

The top of the rock, 6 hectares, is pretty much covered in the ruins of the fortified capital and only the low foundations of the wall remain.  The construction of this citadel would have been a horrendous task as all of the walls were constructed from red clay bricks. Bricks that would have to have been made and fired at ground level and then carried up to the top.