Unseen Sigiriya

Sigiriya is known as a majestic creature of King Kasyapa I (478-496AD). But Sigiriya has much more complex history than this. Now archeologists believe a series of developments occurred at Sigiriya extending from 2nd or 3rd century BC to 12th or 13th century AD. Sigiriya has become a Buddhist monastery and a tourist destination following King Kasyapa’s demise. This amazing place was rediscovered by British in 19th century. Prof. Senarath Paranawithana was sacrificed a much time of his work in excavation of Sigiriya.

How to getting there
Sigiriya has two separate vehicle parks for locals and foreigners. Local car park is situated at T.B. Tennakoon MW. There is about 1.5km walk along the shaded path to reach Western entrance of Sigiriya where all enter this place. Foreign parking premises has less distance to western entrance.

These two chaps participated in this journey: Heshan (left) and Rakitha (right)

The path to Sigiriya was margined by boutiques

Shaded path to Sigiriya western entrance

Remember it is elephant kingdom

Number of avoidance

Sigiriya Museum is situated just before the western entrance and one of a must visit place at Sigiriya. It gives a complete idea of evolution of Sigiriya from pre historical days to current days. We visited Sigiriya museum before climb the rock.

Sigiriya frescos at Sigiriya museum

Statue of Prof. Senarath Paranawithana. He is looking at Sigiriya forever.

Sigiriya is surrounded by three ramparts (පවුරු) (outer, middle and inner) and two moats (දිය අගල්) (outer and inner). Water gardens are situated on your way to western entrance, on either side of the pathways. (I couldn’t give attention for these items, kept for next visit)

Inner moat

Getting through western entrance

Plan of miniature water gardens

Miniature water gardens

Water gardens of Sigiriya

View of Sigiriya from western entrance

Classic appearance of Sigiriya from western entrance

After passing water gardens you will enter boulder gardens through which steps and pathways lie. There are sheltered caves among boulders. Deraniyagala cave and Cobra hood cave are two of them.

Climbing up….

The path through boulder gardens

.	Heading up…

Heading up…

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.	Deraniyagala cave

Murals of Deraniyagala cave. Rajawarna blue was used for murals. These paintings were imported from Afghanistan.

Cobra hood cave

About Cobra Hood Cave

Murals of the cave

Famous frescos and mirror wall are situated above boulder garden of Sigiriya.

Spiral staircase to reach frescos.

Graffiti on mirror wall of Sigiriya are unique for Sigiriya. They have found over 2000 works of graffiti over mirror wall ranges from 6th century up to 20th century.

Mirror wall is situated on the side of the path.

Mirror wall of Sigiriya

End of mirror wall is one of a good place to get nearby view. I was able to view Ritigala and hills at Naula from this point.

Ritigala-giant of Rajarata

In to known hills: Erawulagala, Galkothknada, Arangala and Manikdena

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Lion paw (සිoහ පාදය) is the next place of Sigiriya comes in order following mirror wall. The name Sigiriya derived from Sinhagiri: Lion rock. And lion paw is the common place of Bambara attacks in Sigiriya. Bambara protection cages can be seen there.

Lion Paw at Sigiriya

Sigiriya from Lion Paw

Lion Paw at Sigiriya

Claw of Lion

Bambara nests on Sigiriya rock

There is a steep ascend with aid of hand rails and metal steps up to the summit of Sigiriya (183m) from Lion Paw. The summit of Sigiriya slopes eastward and has 1.5 hectare space to accommodate the palace, service buildings, rock-cut and brick built pools, drainage systems, gardens and terraces. All connected by limestone steps and pathways.

A pond

On top of Sigiriya

Where palace of Sigiriya situated

Another pond

Steps to connect two different levels

Pahangala-පහන්ගල

View of Sigiriya citadel from top of Sigiriya

Water gardens from summit

Lime stone steps

Steps to a pond

Erawula Hills zoomed. Bambaragala is situated in front of Erawula hills.

Nuwaragala Kanda

Sigiriya Maha Wewa

Sigiriya-Kimbissa road

Stone-cut ponds

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The cave on top of Sigiriya

The cave on top of Sigiriya

View from Sigiriya

Throne

View of Pidurangala from Sigiriya

Lion paw from summit

Different angle of Sigiriya with it’s iron rails

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Sigiriya mirror wall

Aligala and Pahangala (අලිගල, පහන්ගල)
Aligala is a cave with pre historical evidences, situated on a side of Sigiriya. There is a sign board to direct Aligala cave. Pahangala /preaching rock will come across on your way to Aligala. We were able to get onto Pahangala and enjoy the different view of Sigiriya and Pidurangala. This foot pathway continues till Aligala cave where one of the oldest pre historical evidences found.

Get on to Pahangala

View of Sigiriya from Pahangala

View of Sigiriya from Pahangala

View of Pidurangala from Pahangala

A cave

Forest around Aligala

Foot pathway to Aligala

Stone tools and animal remains from Aligala archeological site

Information of Aligala cave

Aligala cave

This is one of an important board found at Sigiriya.

Ramakele archeological site (රාම කැලේ පුරාවිදයා ස්ථානය)
It is one of the major monasteries around Sigiriya. A Dagaba can be seen at
archeological site and there are some scattered ruins at the forest around.

Ramakele archeological site

Into the forest

Hidden Mal Asanaya at Ramakele archeology site.

There are different viewpoints around Sigiriya to get different view. Next part of the trip was based on it. Pidurangala is one of a popular places to get a beautiful view of Sigiriya.

Pidurangala (පිදුරන්ගල)
Pidurangala is situated about 3.5km from Sigiriya. There are three things to do around Pidurangala: visit at Pabbatha Viharaya, temple at base of Pidurangala and get on to Pidurangala rock. (172m)

Pidurangala Pabbatha Viharaya (පිදුරන්ගල පබ්බත විහාරය)
Pidurangala Pabbatha Viharaya is situated few hundred meters away from Pidurangala rock. Pabbatha Viharaya means temple complex consists with bodhigara, Dagaba, image house, chapter house and Sabha Shalawa.
This is a nice place with grass coverings and shaded by trees.

Pidurangala Pabbatha Viharaya

Bodhigara at Pabbatha Viharaya. .

Dagaba at Pidurangala Pabbatha Viharaya

Dagaba

A stone pillar

Chapter house

Assembly Hall.

Pidurangala Vaharala Inscription

Inscription

Moonstone

Forest path

Ruins came across along the path

The first step of classic Pidurangala temple is Len Viharaya situated just above modern day Awasa Geya. There is an inscription below the drip ledge of cave temple. Inside the cave you can see two Buddha statues.

Pidurangala Len Viharaya /cave temple

Inscription with Brahmin letters.

Entering to cave temple

Buddha statue at cave temple

After passing Len Viharaya you will reach the boulder garden of Pidurangala amid which meditation caves can be seen.

Ascend along boulder garden

It rained before we arrive

Posing….

Pathway

Another cave of Pidurangala

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Reaching Pidurangala Ihala Maluwa

Ihala Maluwa of Pidurangala has a long cave with Buddha statue. Pidurangala stone inscription and the pond can be seen on side of the cave. We were able to get on to the rock after passing the cave.

Ihala Maluwa cave of Pidurangala

Drip ledge of Ihala Maluwa cave

Pidurangala rock inscription

Rock inscription

Reconstructed Buddha statue

Reclined Buddha statue

The pond at Ihala Maluwa

A frog

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The foot path to top of Pidurangala is bit tricky after the Buddha statue. Top of Pidurangala is another place to watch Sigiriya. There are remaining of two Dagaba on top of Pidurangala

View of Sigiriya from Pidurangala

View of Sigiriya from Pidurangala. Erawula hills at back.

Lion paw and iron railings above lion paw can be seen here.

Walking on the rock

Debris of a Dagaba on top of Pidurangala

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Either “Pansal Wewa” or “Pahala Wewa”.

Pidurangala temple

Buddha statue situated with meditation caves

Pottanigala

Foreigners love to stay on it

Place to relax

Fainted view of Dambulla cave temple

Kayanwala Wewa (7.56 28.89, 80.45 16.19) (කායන්වල වැව)
Kayanwala Wewa is another place to watch Sigiriya, Pidurangala and Erawula hills. After get right turn after few meters following Ramakele, you can end up at the lake bunt of Kayanwala lake

Erawula hills and Bambaragala over Kayanwala Lake.

View of Sigiriya over Kayanwala Lake. This might be the northern face of Sigiriya.

View of Sigiriya over Kayanwala Lake. This might be the northern face of Sigiriya.

Kayanwala Lake is a good place for bird watching.

Nuwaragala hills over Kayanwala Lake.

View of Sigiriya and Pidurangala closer to Kayanwala Lake.

View of Sigiriya from Mapagala (7.57 140, 80.452762) (මාපාගල)
Southern face of Sigiriya can be seen from Mapagala. Though we were not able to get on to Mapagala, the same picture could be captured from base of it.

Southern face of Sigiriya.

Sigiriya and Pidurangala from Pahala Wewa (7.58 49.56, 80.4448.02) (පහළ වැව)
Pahala Wewa is a nice place to capture Sigiriya and Pidurangala in one frame. Pahala Wewa gets water from Mahaweli project. Get right turn from Thalkote School to reach Pahala Wewa. Pahala Thalkote Lake is not functioning now. This lake is a popular place for bathing. We have ended the day after having a dip at Thalkote Lake.

Along the bund of Pahala Wewa.

Sigiriya and Pidurangala over Pahala Wewa. Nuwaragala Kanda is seen in between two hills.

View of Pidurangala over Pahala Wewa.

Sigiriya

End of the day.

Thanks for reading