In Sri Lanka, there is a massive column of rock located within an ancient site with a history of over a thousand years—Sigiriya Ancient City. This ancient city bears witness to historical civilization and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its unique architecture and artistic achievements.
During the 5th century, in the era of the Moriya Dynasty, King Dathusena’s eldest son, Kassapa, was not born to the queen and therefore could not inherit the throne. Driven by an extreme desire for power, he assassinated his father and seized the kingship. Fearing revenge from the legitimate heir, his brother Moggallana, Kassapa built his royal city atop the massive Sigiriya Rock, hoping that the site’s naturally defensible position would secure his rule. This royal city is Sigiriya Ancient City, an extraordinary architectural complex that can truly be called a marvel.
Sigiriya Ancient City consists of the outer structures and the central palace complex, encompassing moats, garden terraces, Sigiriya Rock, and the brick-red Sky Palace built atop the rock.
Upon entering the ancient city, visitors are immediately struck by the meticulously constructed moats, several tens of meters wide, which provided formidable defense.
Venturing further through the garden terraces, visitors arrive beneath the most awe-inspiring Sky Palace. The palace was built atop Sigiriya Rock, which rises 377 meters above sea level and towers 180 meters high. From a distance, the rock once resembled a majestic lion. Today, most of the stone has weathered away, leaving only the lion’s body supporting the ancient structure, silently telling the story of a civilization from over a thousand years ago.
The area atop the lion’s back is not particularly large, yet Kassapa built here a complex, massive, and magnificent palace, a true man-made marvel crafted by the skilled artisans of a thousand years ago. The palace included the king’s stone throne, banquet halls bustling with activity, a grand council chamber illuminated with lamps, luxurious royal chambers, and water reservoirs.
Although today only the ruins remain at the summit, visitors can still glimpse the palace’s former glorious splendor from a millennium ago.
