Sigiriya

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Our next feat was to climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress. It was originally built around 477 AD as an impenetrable fortress by King Kasyapa of Sri Lanka, and much later (16th and 17th centuries history tells us) it was used as a monastery by Buddhist monks. It is the 8th Wonder of the Modern World...

The rock stands over 200m tall and there are 1200 steps carved into the rock face, some easy and some not so easy, which takes us right to the top.

Elsie and I started our climb around 9.30 in the morning, and it was nearly midday when we got up there. It was hot, it was sweaty, but once we reached the summit, it was such a sense of accomplishment 😊 ...and what a view we had from the top...

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Photos

Sigiriya Rock Fortress
Mental preparation for the climb ahead :)

Sigiriya Rock Fortress
View from halfway up the rock

Sigiriya steps
the easy part of our climb..

Sigiriya Frescoes
The King was known to have 500 concubines, of which he had frescoes painted. These frescoes have survived thousands of years and are still in amazing condition, mainly due to the natural pigments used by the artists..

Sigiriya steps
The climb wasn't always easy... especially for me who isn't the best with heights....

Lion's Paws
The last part of the climb starts between two huge Lion's Paws, the only remains of the 'Lion Rock' that is Sigiriya's namesake...

Step 1200
And we made it!!!!

View from Top
Looking back down to where we started...

Comments

[hashini]

frescos
i just luv da pic ........... its soooo cool. keep up da nice photography. gud luck....... xoxo.