Sigiriya (Sri Lanka)

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Taking its name from giriya ('jaws and throat') and sinha ('lion'), Sigiriya is a palace in central Sri Lanka. It contains the ruins of an ancient royal fortress and city founded in the fifth century AD by King Kasyapa. Three kilometres (1.8 miles) wide and one kilometre (0.6 miles) long, it stands on a remarkably steep, large rock, known as Lion Mountain , that rises 180m (600ft) above the surrounding plain. It was constructed in AD 477 as a safeguard against attack from Mogallana, Kasyapa's brother from whom he had usurped the throne after killing their father, and visitors were obliged then, as now, to enter through the jaws of a massive monumental lion.

Sigiriya is a small shanty village, best known for its 5th-century rock fortress and temples. The 600-foot-high monolithic Sigiriya Rock dominates the surrounding scenery and attracts an abundance of tourists, normally on a one- or two-night stopover.

Accommodation is spread across a vast area with some of the higher-rated properties up to 10 mls away, all fairly basic self-contained properties quietly placed on outskirts of village. More sophisticated properties can be found in Habarana to North.

This is a popular destination for back-packers and day-trippers touring the area's historic sites.

Locality:

Sigiriya is fairly centrally placed, almost 100 mls NE of Colombo and Bandaranaike international airport, 10 mls NE of Dambulla. It is set in lush jungle surroundings of rolling hills and agricultural land.

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Located in Kandy, an ancient religious centre for Buddhism, the octagonal, golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth is by far the main tourist attraction in the area. It was built between 1687 and 1707, and is a stunning sacred temple, which is believed to house the left upper canine of the Lord Buddha himself. According to legend, the tooth was taken from the Buddha as he lay on his funeral pyre and smuggled to Sri Lanka hidden in Princess Hemamali's hair, where it survived numerous attempts to capture and destroy it.

The tooth was brought from Kalninga in India during the fourth century by Princess Hemamali and Prince Danta on the orders of the princess's father, King Guhasiva; he was worried that the relic might fall into the hands of his enemies and so, in order to safeguard it, he gave it to King Kirti Sri Meghavarna (AD 301-328) of Anuradhapura. Today, this famous religious relic attracts white-clad pilgrims, bearing lotus blossoms and frangipani, every day. The temple is joined to the Pattiripuwa (Octagon), built in 1803, which was originally used as a prison, but now houses a collection of palm-leaf manuscripts.

There are many other attractions in this ancient city, including Natha Devale , a stone sanctuary and the oldest building in Kandy, and Mahavishnu Devale , a temple which is dedicated to Vishnu, the protector of Buddhism in Sri Lanka

There are one or two souvenir stalls only, selling Buddhist artefacts, spices, fresh fruit and vegetables on the roadside.

All the entertainment is purely hotel based.

All the restaurants are also hotel based, but a couple of small shack-type eateries for daytime snacks can be found in the streete.

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Population: 20.064.800
Languages: Sinhala 74% (official and national), Tamil 18% (na
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee
Currency code: LKR
Local Times:
Sri Lanka - Colombo

Country Dialling Code: +94
Voltage: 230V 50Hz
Electrical plugs:
2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

2 parallel circular prongs with an earth connector

For a small island, Sri Lanka has many nicknames: Serendib, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Resplendent Isle, Island of Dharma, Pearl of the Orient. This colourful collection reveals its richness and beauty, and the intensity of the affection it evokes in its visitors.

Head for the rolling hills to escape the heat of the plains in the cool of tea plantations. The entire island is teeming with bird life, and exotics like elephants and leopards are not uncommon. To top it all off, the people are friendly, the food is delicious and costs are low.

The island of Sri Lanka lies off the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean, a verdant paradise that is the cradle of the Buddhist faith. Apart from hundreds of miles of the world's most beautiful palm-fringed beaches, Sri Lanka boasts no fewer than seven World Heritage Sites listed by Unesco, ranging from sacred cities, palaces and cliff-top citadels to colonial strongholds, spanning close to 3,000 years of history. To complete the picture of perfection, Sri Lanka is situated just three degrees north of the Equator, meaning the weather is constantly hot, humid and tropical. Sunny skies are the order of the day; even in the brief monsoon season there is always a daily spell of sunshine.

There has, however, been trouble in paradise. Modern Sri Lanka has experienced indigenous terrorism, particularly in the north of the island and the metropolis of Colombo city, but the beautiful beaches and towns of the south and southeast coast have been unaffected. Visitors who enjoy some mystery and wonderment will marvel at the ancient sites of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Panduwasnuwara, where the remains of a great civilisation are to be seen. The cities of Colombo and Kandy show the influence of the foreign colonial powers that fought for control over the strategic, lush island in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Dutch-inspired buildings stand cheek to jowl with Victorian British mansions and Portuguese fortifications.