Sigiriya, The ‘Lion Rock Fortress’ Of Sri Lanka
Marvellous Engineering Of The Eighth Wonder Of The World
Sigiriya, an ancient rock fortress and a former royal palace, is one of Sri Lanka’s most visited and best-known sights, attracting just more than one million visitors each year. This national treasure, which is regarded as the eighth wonder of the world was also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to the preservation of ancient technology and cultural heritage over millennia.
What Makes Sigiriya So Special?
Located in central Sri Lanka, Sigiriya, or Lion Rock, is a natural geological feature. Archaeological research has proven that Sigiriya and its area have been inhabited for more than 4,000 years.
Sigiriya has been a monastery since the third century BC, and King Kashyapa transformed it into a royal palace in the late fifth century.
Sigiriya is considered an engineering marvel due to the advanced skills required to construct the fortress from sheer rock. It was constructed upon an impressive monolithic rock pillar. The rock rises to a height of 1,144 feet (349 meters) above sea level and is roughly 590 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding plain.
