Sigiriya, Kingdom of King Kashayapa

 

Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Once again, the April holiday is when we normally travel in the year. This time our visit is to the central province of Sri Lanka where most part of the history is written. We set off early in the morning,  paddy fields beside the road are a significant sight in the area.  Once in a while view of a small mountain, a Dagaba, and a Buddha statue change the sight along the way.  The dry wind mixed with dust blew with the warmth of the hot sun.  The travelers enjoy the break by sipping tea in small tea cafes with local short eats or, king coconut water to get relief from thirst. The fruit stalls and vegetable stalls displayed the fresh harvest from villagers to be sold beside the road. 

After nearly four hours of drive, we reached our rest near the famous town Sigiriya. We stayed in a guesthouse at the sight of the famous Sigiriya Rock fortress.  The guesthouse was surrounded by a paddy field and the pool was set in the middle of the paddy field. The air mixed with the smell of wild marshy land. The rock view through the rooftop of the open restaurant. The restaurant was made creatively and unique to Sri Lanka style with wood and a roof covered with dry coconut leaves to go along with nature.

Sigiriya is located 175 km North-East of Colombo via Ambepussa Kurunagala, Trincomalee road, Dambulla or Habarana town to Sigiriya.  The Rock Fortress is 10 minutes drive from where we stay.  First, we brought the ticket from the counter at the entrance.  For locals the ticket is Rs. 50 for foreigners USD 30. The ancient site is open for visitors from 7.00 am to 5.30 pm. The visitors advised climbing the rock in the morning or evening to avoid the discomfort of the hot sun and the burning stone steps. 

The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters high. The site was selected by King Kashayapa for his new capital. He built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of the rock, he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure Sinhagiri means "Lion Rock".

The ponds, and fountains, we meet before the rock fortress are few remains evidence of the once beautiful royal garden. The water garden, moats, and ramparts are based on an echo plan duplicating the layout and design on either side. The gentle breeze, calm, and quiet surroundings blessed with a sensation of relaxation. 

The distance view of the rock stands solemnly in the middle of the forest evidence once a glorious era of the luxurious kingdom. We walked through the path and took a few steps running through a cave to an open area. Here is the grand entrance with two enormous lion paws. The rock's most elegant and significant feature is the lion staircase leading to the palace garden on the summit. According to historians and the ideas described in some of the graffiti, this Lion staircase could be visualized as a gigantic figure towering majestically against the granite cliff, facing north, bright-colored, and awe-inspiring. 

We climb through the narrow steep stairs running crisscross on the rock. The staircase is built of bricks and timber and has a tiled roof. All that remains now are the two colossal paws and a mass of brick masonry that surround the ancient limestone steps, and the cuts and groves on the rock face give an idea of the size and shape of the lion figure.

The joy and excitement are filled with every step on the windy stairs, and breathtaking sight with every turns you made. Everyone's face shows curiosity to know what is waiting for them to see on the top. The site is crowded with locals and foreign tourists to explore the wonder of this amazing place. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO-listed World Heritage site. Sri Lanka's ancient architecture is well portrayed in Sigiriya, the best-preserved city center in Asia from the first millennium with a combination of buildings and gardens. Sophisticated city planning was at the heart of Sigiriya, this royal citadel of ancient fame in the days of Sri Lanka's memorable past.

We walked through the ruins of the palace and stumbled upon the summit's large pool. Imagination flowed across my mind of a grand and elegant palace with luxurious comfort surrounded by the stunning view of lush green jungle melding with the blue horizon seemed endless.  The story hides behind the very inch of these remaining ruins of the palace. King Kashyapa built  this as a safe palace to hide from his half brother who wait for revenge for killing their father over a dispute of the kingship.  Sigiriya being a fortress, had been well designed for its defenses by having ramparts and moats built around it.  From the summit of the rock, the land areas up to distances of tens of miles can be watched making it hard for the enemy to make an attack on the kingdom.     

The Palace garden on the summit was the domestic garden with its terraced and rock-cut pools. The dip in it like the ancient royals once did would have been tempting. From high above, the water garden system below was clear, perfectly centered, and impressively aligned.

The fresh air and breathtaking view made us relax on the top. after clicking the camera to take some photos of this amazing place we set back to go down. It was an easy hike, with a well-marked trail and manageable stairs. A few steps downwards the exit to the spiral iron staircase leads to an aesthetic exposure to the ancient kingdom.  The Mirror Wall Sigiriya is now stained in hues of orange. When it was built by King Kashyapa over 1600 years ago it was a highly polished white masonry parapet wall. The travelers were inspired by the wonder they saw, they transferred their thoughts into poetry, and wrote on the wall. 

The most renowned are the Sigiriya Rock Paintings or Frescoes believed to be queens and concubines of the king. The paintings would have covered most of the western face of the rock, covering an area 140 meters long and 40 meters high. The real history, emotions, and glamour of those who lived in this amazing kingdom were hidden behind the paintings, and graffiti still unraveled. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkJSoLCL7vE

Souvenir Shop 

EXPLORE MOST STUNNING WATERFALLs

Explore the most stunning Blue Mountains and Silver Waterfalls

We set off early in the morning for our journey on Colombo Rathnapura road. Sun was started to beam through city buildings, most of the shops and houses along the road were closed when we passed the city. We were all excited and longed for a holiday after hectic work. Getting rid of the hot sunny city, we decided our destination be o the cold, stunning hill country. After two hours of driving the surrounding alongside side, the road changed into more green with trees and long spread paddy fields.  It was really beautiful the square shape slots of paddy fields along the roadside. The wind blows through the field mad making the surroundings cooler. The flock of white storks among the paddy field was such scenery. The flocks of storks gather here because the paddy fields are rich with the food they need. The small streams of water running along the fields are full of fish and the warms coming out from the plowed ground for paddy cultivation are a feast for these birds. At distance, a few blue mountain stands like giants made a stunning view.

When we were passing the major towns Rathnapura, Pelmadulla, and Balangoda the crowd gathered to fetch their daily needs and the shops made heavy traffic. It took fea w minutes more time from our journey. Between the towns the roads are quite good.  Buildings along with the roadside increase due to the rapid rise of population and development in the area. But still, the majority of beautiful landscapes remain unchanged.  We felt the change of climate as we travel away from the city, instead of the dusty thin air and the unbearable heat in the city, here the breath cool fresh air and the beautiful nature relaxed us.

Belihuloya is a famous tourist destination among locals as well as foreigners, where a traveler can enjoy breathtaking views and lots of stunning waterfalls. We had our lunch at a small restaurant situated in an edge of a small cliff. The place was quite crowded due to the long New Year holiday in the country. Lots of families with kids made the place a little bit noisy. We wait quite bit long to get our food. The restaurant staff struggled to cope up with the customers. We ate the hot and tasty food with fresh vegetable dishes sitting near the glass window, enjoying the stunning view of the Blue Mountains. The randomly passing cool winds chill us for a moment. We were enjoying such chill after exposing year adorning hot in the city. The sun is almost p of the sky still the climate varies against the cool wind.

The Surathali Ella falls ma et few kilometers drive from Belihuloya, and between Belihuloya and Haldummulla.  Unless you carefully watch the signboard you might have missed the point to turn to see this beautiful waterfall.  It was a few meters walk the n narrow path along the grass-grown ground through shady trees to reach the fall. You can hear the never-ending sounds of water falling from a distance evidence a fall is nearby. We carefully went down, the chilly water running over the slippery stones. The waterfalls from the mountain turn the way down through stones making unique shapes to the fall. We climb a little further towards the fall stepping on the stones. We chose a good spot with a view of the waterfall there to dip our feet into the water. We stay there for a moment admiring the amazing beauty of the waterfall and enjoying the break from the tiring long drive. It was almost late evening; we reached the small cottage at Belihuloya. 

As to the owner of the, rest there are lots of waterfalls around the area. We had chosen a few to explore to match our time schedule. After breakfast, first, in the morning we went to a nearby fall Pahanthudawa fall. We found the fall after a few minutes’ walk from the cottage. The place was isolated and surrounded by mounts. Huge stones make climbing a little bit harder. The water was falling like a thread to a basin-like deep pool end of the fall. The falling shape resembled an oil lamp, so its name.   There was a mysterious atmosphere around the fall with dark clouds in the sky that morning. We were enjoying the fall at distance. Water drops on our faces signal the rain so we rush back to the rest.

We depart from Belihuloya toward Haputhale soon after we return to the rest.  The tallest waterfall in the Sri Lanka the Babarakanda fall is on our way. After one of r drives w,e reach Kalupahana Junction on our left, turned from the junction we drive about 2 km to the entrance to Babarakanda Fall. A ticket was issued at the entrance. This money had been used to develop and maintain the surrounding path to reach the fall. It had been very difficult route to reach the fall through the most difficult trek years back. But as to the development of , the area the path had been cleaned, put up some steps and rail to make the climb easy. Trekking through a path with stunning views of mountains and tall trees growing up to the sky was a great experience for an adventurer.  In the end, nature deserves a treat for your hard walk to the breathtaking waterfall, falling along a tall mountain cliff.  It was slow and thin when we were there, but in rainy season that fall widen with the heavy force of water. There was a viewing stage, where people can see the fall from a little distance. As waterfall fancies we reach down to the end of the fall, climbing stones up to the fall is one of the things we enjoy very much. There was a little crowd similar to our interest in the fall dip themselves in the cool water. It was really refreshing after such climb to get rid of the sweat and tiredness on your body. The travelers of local and foreigners were among the crowd.

Spending the morning hours in the fall we headed to Haputhale. We stop at the first restaurant we met but place was heavy with a crowd. So, we brought lunch packets on our way, we parked our vehicle on a spot with a view, and sat on a rock in the open air  to enjoy our meal.

Within one-hour drive we reach small Haputhale town. The town was congested; it was soon after New year most people visit to their relatives. They come to town to buy gifts and sweets for their visit. So, most shops are open for their customers. The majority of the crowd are Tamils were wear colorful glittering clothes, and women wearing fresh flower garlands as headdresses can see with families. And most of the city people like us, travel outstation in this vacation. So, the smells of smoke from a large number of vehicles traveling to such destinations are polluted air in the environment. However, Haputhale is a beautiful town with views of stunning misty mountains. Even on the sunny days, you can witness the mist everywhere. We Sri Lankan, enjoy the cold climate as foreigners from cold countries prefer the sunny weather.

We pass the town and turn our way to see Adisham Banglow, the most popular place among locals. The place was quite isolated when I first visit in 1989. As the place become more popular, now the place is quite crowded. When the British rule the country they had build their residence their style and the environment quite similar to their motherland, they felt quite at home in this town. The garden is beautifully maintained to attract tourists and there are some natural food products such as jam, cottage cheese, goat milk, honey, etc. to be sold at a small shop in the premises. People mostly visit to see the beauty of granite stone bungalow which was built time far back in 1893. Only part of the bungalow is exhibited for the visitors. All the furniture and accessories which were used in the past were protected to exhibit. The visitors are enjoying the stunning view, of where the bungalow is situated as well as the architecture of the bungalow. We enjoyed a few hours in the place and head back to explore another beautiful waterfall.

more reading: https://lanka.com/about/attractions/st-benedicts-monastery-adisham-bungalow/

We were driving back on the road a few kilometers and turned right to Beragala Koslanda road. After one and half hour's drive, on a road with lots of bends, with a stunning view of tall trees and breathtaking views of Blue Mountains, we saw a silver thread draw along a far away mountains. After another half an hour we reach the water fall near to a bridge along the road. Diyaluma fall is the second highest waterfall in Sri Lanka. As it is easy to access, it is very popular among locals. Anyone traveling from Katharagama on Thanamalwila road via Wellawaya to Haputhale can see this beautiful view of the fall. The fall takes three parts, the upper Diyaluma falls and the top of the fall is very popular among adventurous tourists, they climb with a guide. Most travelers cross this place and stop for a moment to view the beauty of this amazing waterfall. We stepped through a narrow path down to reach the water, climbing on huge and slippery stones we reaches a little further to have a good view. We had been dipping our legs in the freezing water for half an hour enjoying the view of w the water falling like a long veil of a bride.

We were continued our way headed through bending roads on the hill country to our next destination. You can see the roads like snakes are running below. The equally spread tea plantation covering the mountains are very unique to the upcountry of Sri Lanka. The woman plucking tea leaves, and wearing colorful sarees were a common sight on these tea plantations. There are many tea factories in this area, for those who are interested in the tea-making process, have the opportunity to visit some tea factories. And there are tea factory outlets to enjoy a good cup of tea and buy many flavors of tea products. A sip of world-famous Ceylon teacup was quite a treat for foreign or local travelers amidst the beauty of nature of this cool misty hill country.