Ancient cities / Sigiriya / Yapahuwa / Dambulla

SIGIRIYA

Sigiriya was no mere fortress, gloomy and forbidding. At the brief height of its glory – it Was  royal citadel for more than 18 years, from 477 to 495 A.D. and one of the loveliest that have graced this land.

            There are many interpretations of the Sigiriya period, history replete with legend, love and betrayal. But one story remains, the story of Kasyapa its creator, King with an artist’s soul. Bards have written about him and plays and films have tried to capture his personality.              

In a sheltered pocket on the western face of Sigiriya rock, approach by a spiral stairway, are the famous frescoes. Epigraphically evidenced refers to the existence of 500 such portraits, but only 19 remain today. On the western and northern sides of the steep rock face runs gallery or the pathway which provides access to the seemingly inaccessible summit. Shielding this pathway is 91/2 ft. Plaster wall, so highly polished, that even today, after fifteen centauries of exposure to sun, wind and rain, one can see one’s reflection in it. Hence the name “Mirror Wall”.   

            The summit of the rock is nearly three acres in extent. The outer wall of the Palace which is the main building was constructed on the very brink of the precipice. There were gardens, cisterns and ponds laid out attractively.

            The pleasure garden of the western side of the rock is studded with ponds, islets, promenades and pavilions. Some underground and surface drainage system has been discovered during excavations. The wall abutting the moat encircling the fortress is one of the most arresting features.  

YAPAHUWA

   An ancient fortress and capital in the year 1301. Situated in the Kurunegala District about 90 miles from Colombo, Yapahuwa is, like the better known Sigiriya, a rock rising abruptly from its surroundings, to a height of about 300 ft. Yapahuwa is surrounded by moats and ramparts. Many traces of their ancient battle defence may still be seen, while and ornamental stairway remains its biggest showpiece.  

DAMBULLA

Twelve miles from Sigiriya is Dambulla, a vast isolated rock mass 500 ft. high and a mile round the base. Here is found the famous rock temple dating to the first centaury B.C. The caves of Dambulla sheltered the kind during his 14 years of exile from Anuradhapura. When he regained the throne, he caused to be built the most magnificent of rock- temples of this island.

            The view from the top of this rock is breathtaking 350 ft above are a series of five caves turned into shrines.

            In the first cave is recumbent image of the Buddha 47 ft. long, cut out of the rock. There are images of deities associated with Buddhism. The frescoes on the walls and ceiling could be dated to the 15^th – 18^th centauries. In the second cave, the finest and the largest of all, are not less than 150 life-size statues of gods. There are numerous images of the Buddha as well. The ceiling too is covered with frescoes which depict great events in the history of the Sinhala people.