August 3, 2002- SIGIRIYA , The Lion Mountain

Sigiriya, the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient world was absolutely the most unique of all the locations that we visited on this trip to Sri Lanka.  This rock citadel was used by king Kasyappa from 477 to 495 AD as a fortress.  The Complex consists of the central rock, rising 200 meters above the surrounding plain, and the two rectangular precincts on the east (90 hectares) and the west (40 hectares), surrounded by two moats and three ramparts. We climbed to the very summit of the rock with a very good local guide.   It took us a good part of an hour to climb to the summit of the rock.

The garden city and the palace was built by king Kasyapa 477 - 495 AD. Then after king Kasyapa's death it was a Buddhist monastery complex upto about the 14th century.

From the summit of the rock, you can see the once magnificent royal pool, the throne, remains of the once majestic palace, walk ways and gardens.

On the way to Sigiriya, we stopped on the wayside at a farmer's house to pick up one of the guides who would help us to get to Sigiriya.  This was a typical farm house in the Sri Lankan dry zone and the picture is of Sharon at the well located in the back of the farmer's house.