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Sigiriya The "Lion Rock" the "Fortress in
the Sky". King Kasyapa built this legendary Citadel during his reign
477 - 495 AC. After passing through the remains of the beautiful water
Gardens at the foot of the rock, your ascent to the summit will
reveal; The Mirror Wall - possessing over 700 Sinhala verses written
by visitors from the 5th to the 13th century, Frescoes; the famous
exquisite rock cave paintings of the "Cloud Damsels".
The Lion Stairway - A stairway where the last lap of your ascent
starts between the huge paws of a colossal Lion statue and takes you
through what was once the mouth of the Lion, up to the summit of the
rock where the remains of the Kings Palace, ponds, and other
structures can be seen.
The legend of Kasyapa is a story of
tragedy and political intrigue. Kasyapa was the Kings son by a non
royal consort who plotted against his father and became king after
executing him. Fearing the wrath of the crown prince he is said to
have built this palace like an impregnable fortress on this rock.
Later the two half brothers met in battle and by a unexpected turn of
events was abandoned by his own army and took his own life. After the
demise of this Kingdom it once again returned to its original state of
a Buddhist monastery
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