Sigiriya

Sigiriya is another artistic place in Sri Lanka.  According to the folklore, the name of "Sigiriya" derives from the word "Sinha Giriya".  Sinha means "lion" and the giriya means "rock/hill".  So the meaning of Sigiriya is Lion Rock.  This name would have come to this wonderful rock, because there is an enormous Lion at the gateway of the rock.  This is an ancient fortress in Sri Lanka.  This rock kingdom is situated closer to the city of Dambulla, in the Matale District of Central Province of Sri Lanka.

King Dhathusena is the father of King Kashyapa.  Since King Kashyapa was the eldest son of the King Dhathusena, he was asking the dowry from the King Dhathusena and King Dhathusena told that his dowry is "Kala Wewa" (a Lake), which is in Anuradhapura. King Kashyapa got angry with his father, he has seized the throne from the King Dhathusena, while throwing and wailing his father alive.  

King Kashyapa was scared of his half brother, Prince Mugalan, who was the real owner of the throne, after the King Dhathusena.  Prince Mugalan has been fled to India and organized an army to fight against King Kashyapa.  In the meantime, King Kashyapa has brought the capital and the kingdom to Sigiriya from Anuradhapura. Therefore, this Rock fortress has been created and built by the King Kashyapa.  He has done a marvelous job by constructing his new kingdom on the top of the rock. There were palaces, parks, water fountains on the top of the rock and in the surrounding area.    

This rock is 200 meters (660 feet) high,  King Kashyapa was a very creative person, as he is the one, who has got done the beautiful world famous wall paintings on the walls of the rock. There are "Kurutu Gee" (poems) written on the walls of the rock.  They are very famous among the world.  One time, it was nominated for the 8th wonders in the world.  Today Sigiriya is a UNESCO listed world heritage. 

It is our duty to protect these world famous heritages in Sri Lanka !!!

**Some facts have been taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigirya**

- Shrimal Champika Wickremasinghe -