Sigiriya Gardens

These gardens are considered the world’s oldest landscape gardens dating back to 477 AD. Built by King Kashyapa I, he chose the site due to his paranoia. He was generally disliked by most people especially after seizing power from and killing his father, and forcing his brother, heir to the throne, to flee the self-made king. The natural rock formations offered a way to set up a defense against his enemies including his brother.

This entire is an example of early urban planning. The king built a citadel, surrounding city, gardens, and a palace at the top of the Sigiriya rock. The gardens consist of 3 different types. Water–with pools and limestone fountains and man-made islands. The Terraced gardens are mostly at the base of the rock formation and linked with limestone stairs. The boulder garden linked by pathways was built and carved primarily for defense purposes. Features at the site include frescos, moats, palace ruins, the Mirror Wall, which is a highly polished wall, ancient graffiti, etc.

King Kashyapa army was defeated in the year 495 by his brother’s army that had been gathered in southern India. Instead of facing the consequences, Kashyapa is said to have killed himself with his own sword.

The site was used as a Buddhist temple for a time but at some point, it fell into disuse and was absorbed into the jungle and only known to locals until the British began uncovering it starting in the 1890s. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 the same year the top of Sigiriya rock featured in Duran Duran’s “Save a Prayer” music video. Yes, I just had to slide the Duran Duran bit in…