Sigiriya is considered a World Heritage Site and archaeologists believe that it has the oldest surviving garden in Asia. The fortress that is known around the world for its frescoes is believed to have been built in the 5th century AD. It has been identified as a palace ground but some believe that it must have been the yard of a Buddhist monastery. Nevertheless, for the visitor to this attraction, exploring its gardens provides an experience in itself as there are water gardens, boulder gardens and terrace gardens.
The Sigiriya experience commences with water gardens as there is a massive moat around the fortress. There are also courtyards, pools, cisterns, water pavilions, conduits and watercourses spread out in the premises including the top of Sigiriya. It is claimed to possess one of the oldest hydraulic systems in the world. Even to this day it is a wonder how they provided water to the summit and its many ponds. It has been found that underground conduits are placed at varying levels to change the hydro levels of different ponds. For the visitor these aquatic gardens provide a welcome respite on their climb to the top.
Another type of gardens in Sigiriya is the boulder gardens. There are a large number of boulders placed naturally and there are also manmade pathways, which the traveller can take. One highlight amongst these is the Cistern Rock that has a massive cistern made of big slabs of granite. The Audience Hall rock is a huge throne carved out of the rock.
At Sigiriya there are also many terraces, which are also considered as part of the diverse types of grounds in this place. Each of them rises above from the one below and amongst these the most important one is the palace lawn that is believed to have been placed at the summit.
The visitor interested in exploring Sigiriya and its beautiful precincts can opt to stay at a
Sigiriya hotel. Among the many
Sri Lanka hotels, there is Cinnamon Lodge where the traveller can be assured to have a luxurious holiday amidst the regions natural beauty.
