Shot from the top of Sigiriya (the Lion Rock). Showing the palace remains, water tanks and the view to the South, sun & clouds
Shot from the top of Sigiriya (the Lion Rock). It is an ancient palace located in the central Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. The name refers to a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 metres high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the 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 capital and the royal palace was 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.
Size: 18801px × 3714px
Location: Top of Sigiriya Lion Rock, Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Photo credit: © Darren Ruane / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ancient, archeology, architectural, asia, buddha, buddhism, buddhist, dagoba, enlightenment, forest, heritage, jungle, kingdom, landscape, lanka, lion, lord, mountain, national, outdoor, palace, panorama, park, remains, rock, sigiriya, sinhalese, site, sri, stupa, tamil, tea, temple, unesco, vantage, view, vista, world
