The Story of Sigiriya

The story of Sigiriya and its builder King Kasyapa is a tale of cruelty intrigue vision grandeur chivalry betrayal and abandonment. In the fifth century Kasyapa acquires his throne by murdering his father who he has plastered up alive into a wall. Tormented by guilt he abandons his capital and flees into the inhospitable forests of central Sri Lanka. There in an area dominated by a massive column of rock 660 feet high he builds his royal citadel a terrestrial paradise of gardens pavilions and ponds. He transforms the once foreboding column of rock to appear like a huge white cloud. Around its girth he paints an exquisite tapestry depicting semi-nude celestial nymphs. On an escarpment halfway up this formidable rock he constructs a gatehouse in the form of a sphinx-like lion giving his lair its name Sigiriya-Lion Mountain. Atop the rock he builds himself a sky palace of unparalleled beauty to emulate Alakamanda the city of the gods. Hidden from view he lives in splendid isolation tormented by guilt and fear finally coming to a gruesome end. Then his splendid city disappears and is forgotten until rediscovered thirteen centuries later by an adventurous young British army officer on an elephant hunt.Part 1 details the history of the site and the king who built it. Part 2 contains an extensive Site Guide with vivid and never before seen photographs of the site. Hardcopy Edition contains more information and photographs. It also includes more details on the construction of Sigiriya.