The history of the Isle of Sri Lanka has been peppered with grandiose kingdoms, powerful kings and patronage to religious institutions. As a result, during ancient kingdoms such as Anuradhapura and Pollonnaruwa a number of palaces and tributes to Buddhism were seen intermittently. In modern times, the remains of these grandiose structures linger for modern generations to view, admire and be inspired by. One of the remnants of the glorious days is Sigirya, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which is visited by locals and tourists with equal enthusiasm. When visiting Sigiriya, it is best to stay at a hotel Sigiriya for the trek up the Rock can be quite tiring, especially during warm weather. For this purpose, a number of hotels Sigiriya can be found in the vicinity and can be booked for a couple of nights until one recovers from the climb.

The site of Sigiriya, also known as Lion Rock, was formerly an ancient palace built by King Kasyapa. In addition to being a palace, the Lion Rock has also been described as a ‘fortress’ because of the multitude of defensive structures that it adopted. This is primarily due to the fact that its founder, King Kasyapa, seized the throne away from the rightful heir, his half brother Moggallana, and feared that he would attempt to kill him for murdering their father, King Dhatusena. King Kasyapa incorporated gardens and pools on top of the rock as well making it a preserved example of urban planning during ancient times. The manner in which the ancient engineers designed a way to transport water from the bottom to the top of the Lion Rock still remains to be an engineering marvel.

In line with the fortress-like personality of the Lion Rock, King Kasyapa sought to create a moat around the gardens that lead to the Lion Rock. This was presumably to provide protection to the palace and prevent his enemies such as Moggollana from accessing the palace. The Sigiriya Moat can be found around the gardens which can be accessed through one entrance only. Sigiriya remains a majestic creation that has withstood the test of time and is a beloved reminder of the grandeur of Sri Lankan history.

Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.

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