Sigiriya — the Lion Rock (UNESCO 1982)
5th century royal fortress-palace built on a 200m-high red gneiss monolith overlooking the Cultural Triangle jungle. UNESCO since 1982. Built by parricide king Kashyapa I (reign 477-495) who murdered his father to usurp the throne then took refuge at the summit fearing revenge from his half-brother Moggallana (who indeed killed him 18 years later). See: royal water gardens at the base (among the oldest landscape gardens in the world, sophisticated hydraulics still working after 1500 years), FRESCOES of young women (« Maidens of Sigiriya », original mineral pigments painted on the rock face), MIRROR WALL (originally polished reflective wall where visitors carved graffiti poems from 7th to 10th century — first examples of historical tags), LION GATE (two giant carved paws flanking the final staircase), PALACE at summit (360° jungle view). Allow 3-4 hours, leave at 6:30am (opening) to avoid heat and crowds.
King Kashyapa I was only the son of a concubine — he murdered his father King Dhatusena by having him walled up alive in 477 to usurp the throne over his legitimate half-brother Moggallana (who had fled to India). Aware Moggallana would return with an army to avenge, Kashyapa built atop an impregnable 200m monolith a fortress-palace with gardens, pools, throne rooms and court frescoes — an architectural UFO for the era. When Moggallana indeed returned 18 years later (495) with an Indian army, Kashyapa came down from his fortress to fight in the plain rather than hold siege (pride? sense of invincibility?) — his elephant turned around in a marsh, his troops thought he was fleeing, the army scattered and Kashyapa committed suicide by slitting his throat. Sigiriya was abandoned, briefly occupied by Buddhist monks until the 14th century, then FORGOTTEN and swallowed by jungle for 500 years before its rediscovery by British archaeologist H.C.P. Bell in the late 19th century.
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