Sigiriya
| Sigiriya | |
|---|---|
Sigiriya ancient rock | |
| Location | Central Province, Sri Lanka |
| Coordinates | 07°57′25″N 80°45′35″E / 7.95694°N 80.75972°E |
| Elevation | 349 m (1,145 ft) |
| Built for | King Kashyapa of Sri Lanka |
| Visitors | 1 million |
| Governing body | Government of Sri Lanka |
| Website | www.sigiriyafortress.com |
| Official name | Ancient City of Sigiriya |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iii, iv |
| Designated | 1982 (6th session) |
| Reference no. | 202 |
| UNESCO Region | Asia-Pacific |
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri (Lion Rock Sinhala: සීගිරිය, Tamil: சிகிரியா/சிங்ககிரி, pronounced SEE-gi-ri-yə) is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m (590 ft) high.
According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (CE 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Sinhagiri, the Lion Rock.
The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.