The Story of Sigiriya: History of Sigiriya

The historical facts surrounding 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.