Day 3: 1st Mar, 2015
The day started with a lot of excitement as we were heading towards Sigiriya to visit the famous rock fortress. It is said that this rock fortress is the 8th wonder of the ancient world and the history behind this fortress is really amazing.
The vehicle booking was already done with Malkey rentals and the driver was supposed to reach the homestay at 8. Being the punctual guy he was, he was there at sharp 8. We bid good-bye to the lovely host at Palm Nest and headed towards the Malkey office to sign some documents. Travelling around Sri Lanka with a rented vehicle is very easy. Also you can rent a car without a driver but make sure you have an international driving permit. Some formalities and you would be done.
We left from Malkey office at around 8:45 and stopped at Sri Vihar for breakfast. Sri Vihar is a vegetarian restaurant where you would find Indian cuisine. So we had some dosas and idlis. After the breakfast we were all set for Sigiriya.
Once you cross the city limits, the scenery on route is really good. At some places, you see a huge river flowing on one side of the road and railway tracks on the other side. The roads were under construction at some places but otherwise it was a nice journey with Buddha statues, the greenery, the river and all other things natural..!! We passed through Dambulla International Cricket stadium on the way. The stadium is located amidst a lot of greenery. And I was left imagining how lucky must the cricketers be to play here..!!
We reached Sigiriya at around 2. According to the reviews on trip advisor, Ahimsa restaurant is the best one. We tried it and it was certainly worth the visit. There are some 5-6 restaurants located on the small strip. We had veg kottu, rice and curry and banana rotti. The banana rotti was the too good and how I wish I could have one even now..!!
After the meal, we left for the rock fortress. The entrance for the rock fortress is at $30 but for SAARC nationals it is half the price. We were left mesmerized by the first look of the rock which has been declared as world heritage site. There are huge water gardens, moats and fountains all around the fortress. Kasyapa, the kings's son from a non-royal consort, seized the throne from King Dhatusena. The rightful heir, Mugalan, fearing his life, fled to South India. The site was selected by King Kasyapa for his new capital from the previous capital of Anuradhapura, fearing an attack from Mugalan. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with beautiful frescoes and the lawns with beautiful gardens. Halfway up the rock, he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. In India, Mugalan raised an army with the intention of returning and retaking the throne in Sri Lanka which he considered rightfully his. Mugalan finally arrived and declared war. After King Kasyapa's death in the war, Mugalan became the King and the capital was returned to Anuradhapura while the palace on the rock was converted to a monastery.
 |
| Sigiriya rock |
It takes around 3-4 hours to climb the rock, get to the top and see all the remains and the descent. It would be ideal to start the climb by morning 10 or by noon 3 to avoid climbing up hill while the sun is at its peak. Half way up the wall are the world famous frescoes which are a must visit if you are in Sri Lanka. The frescoes of are very beautiful and have stood the test of time.
 |
| The beautiful Sigiriya frescoes |
After the frescoes, you get to see the huge lion paws after which the final climb begins. Once you reach the top, the view of the dense forest cover appeals to the eyes and you wish to spend as much time as possible. There are many remains like the king's throne, the pool and the place where the palace once stood. There are 2 huge tanks which might have been used for bathing and storing drinking water but some articles suggest that during King Kasyapa's reign, there was a pumping system to get the water from a lake at the bottom of the rock. There are many such fascinating things on the top which make it a must visit. After going around all the places, we started the descent and were down by 6 pm.
 |
| Top of the fortress |
 |
| Lion's paws where the final climb begins |
We had booked Sigiriya Paradise Inn which is a homestay very near to the fortress. The hosts were very warm and welcoming. The rooms were air conditioned and clean. Definitely a place to be at in Sigiriya. The evening was spent in discussing the marvellous structure and a wholesome dinner at Ahimsa restaurant.
No comments:
Post a Comment