Sigiriya

In the middle of Sri Lanka, there is a rocky plateau that is known as Sigiriya. It is located at 370 m. above sea level and 170 m. over the local steppe. Sigiriya is listed by UNESCO and has been carefully protected since 1982.

Back in the 5th century, the eldest son of the ruler was obliged to undergo the coronation ceremony, but since the mother of Kassapa (the eldest son) was a concubine, his father decided to make a choice in favor of another son, Mogallan. This fact simply ignited a fire of anger in the chest of the eldest son, and he decided to lock his father in prison. Mogallan was alerted by his brother's actions and decided to flee to South India. My brother, fearing evil revenge, moved the capital to an inaccessible place. It was for these purposes that Sigiriya Rock was chosen by the self-chosen king.

Kassap, together with his architects, carefully prepared the local area and built a wonderful city. His surroundings were the royal gardens, which were filled with fountains and pools. Amazing staircases have also been built here, with the elegance of which no one in the world can compare. The emblem of the entire state was a predatory lion, which was present at the local palace. Today, all that's left of him are his paws.

As evidenced by the ruins, the entire front of the palace, which was built of marble, was carefully lined with expensive stone. The king's hefty throne survived quite well. Local travelers remember the beautiful gallery, which is filled with frescoes, as well as the so-called "mirror wall", which is polished with a mineral. There are frescoes here that have a fairly rich color, they were coated with a special mixture that includes egg white, as well as bee honey. But, unfortunately, only a few frescoes were preserved: from 500 pieces, only 18.

After many years of rule, Kassapa decided to challenge his brother, who had just returned from India with a good army. The battle between the brothers ended in favor of the younger, who eventually destroyed the citadel on the rock and took power into his own hands. After this duel, Moghallan restored the former capital, which was ruled by his father.

The news of the existence of the local fortress of Sigiriya came to European residents only in 1907. John Steele was the first to mention it in his works, describing a gallery of previously unseen dimensions. He was referring to the amazing hall of mirrors, which houses many frescoes with naked dancers, because this motif is the most beloved in Sigiriya paintings.

Every year, many tourists rush to visit this place in Sri Lanka.