Located in the amazing hill country of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya gained its fame through the giant rock fortress planted in the midst of a jungle by nature. The place is also rich in plants and wildlife making Sigiriya a famous tourist destination.
The Sigiriya Rock
The huge boulder that is nestled in the lush green forest is indeed one of a kind. An ancient King named Kasyapa found this rock and decided to build his palace on the very summit of it. On the top of the rock are the ruins of the magnificent palace, gardens, and ponds. The landscaping and plumbing systems are still a mystery waiting to be uncovered! The entrance to the fortress is sculpted in the shape of lion paws, half way up are the archaic frescoes of women, close by is a wall called the mirror wall covered in graffiti.
Pidurangala Rock
The journey to the top of Pidurangala rocks begins with a visit to the Pidurangala Royal Cave Temple. Here lies the ancient statue of a reclining Buddha and some lovely cave paintings done by artists thousands of years ago. The hike up the mountain rock from here onwards is an enjoyable one. Reaching the summit of the rock, the highlight that comes into view the Lion Rock which is a small distance away from Piduranagala. It offers a fantastic view of the rock indeed!
The Cobra Hood Cave
The is a natural formation of rock linked to the Lion Rock in Sigiriya. It is surprisingly shaped much like the hood of a cobra (thus the name). Inside the cave are also a few remnants of the stunning frescoes similar to those seen on the way up the Sigiriya rock.
Dankinigiriya Viharaya
Drop by this ancient praying ground to marvel at the ancient rocks that surround the area. There are also remains of the age-old monastery that used to exist. If you are accommodated at a Sigiriya hotel in Sri Lanka, for instance, the likes of Habarana Village by Cinnamon, stop by this wondrous attraction.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
