The magnificent Sigiriya Rock (Lion rock) Fortress is built on a 660 ft. high column of rock. Built by King Kashyapa (477-495 CE) the rock was a reinforced fortress decorated by beautiful frescoes. Sigiriya Rock is located close to the town of Dambulla in central Sri Lanka. Booking a Sigiriya Hotel is an ideal choice for enjoying elephant spotting safaris amidst rustic environs. The Aliya Resort & Spa is a lovely hotel encompassing nature and modern comforts, ‘Aliya’ meaning ‘elephant’ in Sinhala.
Located in historical Dambulla the family friendly hotel offers easy access and guided tours to Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Relax and unwind in the spacious chalets, offering total comfort with minimum clutter. The rooms range from standard to deluxe while the luxurious ‘tent’ chalets offer true safari style lodging. Elephant spotting is another favourite past-time in Dambulla.
A day tour to Sigiriya Rock fortress listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site is an awe inspiring experience for the whole family. The impressive lions head entrance carved out of stone welcomes you to explore the world famous Frescoes, offering an insight to Sri Lanka’s glorious past.
Exploring the fortress reveals intricate details of successful urban planning in olden times.The ancient citadel built by King Kashyapa in the 5th century as a palace of pleasure consists of lavish gardens both around and on the upper levels of the rock. After the reign of Kashyapa Sigiriya was for some time a Buddhist monastery giving way to well-planned meditation caves with rock pools offering a serene ambiance to the site.
The mirror wall at one time was a highly polished stretch of rock from which the king could see his reflection, over the centuries (dating back to the 8th) visitors to the rock have marked the mirror wall with many inspirational quotes.
sigiriya Rock Fortress deserves your undivided attention, so get ready for a full day of exploration discovering the marvellous wonders of this rock palace.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.