World Heritage Site of

Sigiriya – A Rural Site

Professor Kanak Baran Barua

World Heritage Site Of Sigiriya – A Rural Site

Historical Account:
According to archaeological investigations, prehistoric human between 10,000 to
20,000 years ago had probably occupied Sigiriya and the surrounding areas, although the earliest
dates available go back to 5000 BC. During the Proto-historic period from 1000 to 3000 BC,
significant development involving food gathering, hunting to agriculture had been seen in the
area. Millet and rice cultivation, village settlement, irrigation and the production and use of iron
were prominent with in this period. From 3rd to 1st century AD, the development of large scale
iron productions is seen in the area around Sigiriya. The major construction phase at Sigiriya
dates to King Kasyapa I (477-495 AD) reign based on the Chronicles. Prince Kasayapa together
with the army commander Migara sized to throne from his father King Dhatusens I (459-477
AD) & executed him. King Kasyapa & his master builders established his capital in Sigiriya by
shifting it from Anuradhapura & gave its present name, “Sima-giri” or “Lion-Mountain’.

He builds his palace on the rock summit & laid out the fortified city and the garden
complex around the rock. After his half brother Moggalana defeated him “Sigiriya reverted to a
monastic centre & lasted until about 13th or 14th century. Thereafter it has disappeared from the
historical records until the reign of Rajasimha I of Sitavaka (1551 – 1593 AD) & then as a distant
outpost & military centre in the 17th & 18th centuries.
In early 19th century, antiquarians together with the scholar monk from the
neighbouring temple began to take an interest in the site. Archaeological investigation,
restoration & conservation work by the archaeological department began in 1894. Successive
commissioners of the archaeological department began in 1894. Successive commissioners of the
archaeological department were responsible for directing research, restoration & conservation
over decades. They restored the access to the palace, excavated the summit & the water garden &
mapped the entire complex.
 The Central Cultural Funds UNESCO – Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Programme began
its operation in 1982 involving large scale exactions & extensive conservation & preservation
action. It not only concentrated its activities with in the royal complex of rock, palace, gardens &
the Western fortifications but also on the entire city & its rural hinterlands. Sigiriya is considered
to be a well-planned royal city and a multifaceted, multi-period settlement which extends to
several square kilometers. The royal complex and the city, ramparts, moats, gateways & gardens
of Sigiriya is considered to be one of the beat preserved examples of ancient urban planning and
place & garden architecture in South Asia & is an outstanding example of the 5 th century Sri
Lankan Town Planning.

The rock murals in Sigiriya has gained acceptance among scholars as the finest example of
classic realism paintings, drawn in traditional Sri Lankan Style. A marvel of the 5 th century
technology can be seen in the constriction methods adopted for the walled gallery on the ledge of
the western rock face, which contains Graffiti dating from 7th century. The use of water for the
aesthetic display of the site appears to have a special feature of Sigiriya hydraulics, made
possible only by using almost every aspect of hydraulic engineering theory.
After assessing all these outstanding values in Sigiriya, the World Heritage Committee
decided to inscribe the site a World Heritage site in 17th December 1982 under Criterion II, III &
IV of the operational Guidelines.

“Criterion II – Offers the best justification for the request for inscription introduced by
Sri Lanka. On the one hand, the frescoes of Sigiriya inaugurated a
pictorial style which endured over many centuries. On the other, the site
of “Lion Mountain” was visited from the 6 th century A.D. by passionate
admirers. The poems inscribed on the rock by certain of these admirers
& known by the name “Sigiri Graffiti” are among the most ancient texts
in the Sinhalese language, and thus show the considerable influence
exerted by the abundant city of Kasyapa I on both literature & thought.”
“Criterion III – This cultural property is a unique witness to the civilization of Ceylon during
the years of Kasayapa I.”
“Criterion IV – May be involved as well to the extent that an exceptional and significant event
was the determining factor in the creation of the empirical capital.”
Heritage Protection Efforts in Sigiriya:

After the country fell in to the hand of British rulers, the protection of Sigiriya was
recommended. After the establishment of the archaeological survey of Ceylon in 1890,
archaeological investigations & conservation, work was began in 1894 by the Dept. of
Archaeology. Sigiriya Heritage City was declared as an archaeological reserve according to the
ordinance, there by transferring the ownership of the land to the Archaeological Department. The
individual monuments with in the area was declared as “Ancient Monuments”, which provided
legal protection to the surroundings of the monuments by prohibiting or restricting activities or
any land within a prescribed distance, which stands as 400 meters. Since then Sigiriya slowly
and steadily grew as an attractive tourist centre for both foreign and local visitors.

Basic Information:
Sigiriya is an outstanding example of the 5th century Sri Lanka town planning. It is a royal
citadel consisting of a Royal Palace sited on the summit of a massive rock outcrop, which rises
approximately 165 meters from the plain that surrounds the work, fortified by a series of massive
earth ramparts, wide moats and entrance gateways with masonry walls. The view from the
summit is a splendid 360 degree visual sweep. The Royal Pleasure gardens located within the
innermost rampart is the earliest landscaped garden in Asia. The 5 th century paintakings in the
rock surface have gained acceptances among scholars as the finest examples of classic realism
paintings drawn in traditional Sri Lankan style. Archaeological evidence indicates that almost
every aspect of hydraulic engineering theory had been followed by constructing tanks and
cisterns to store water, conduits, aqueducts and canals to carry water; and sluice valves to control
and water. In the immediate vicinity of Sigiriya number of ancient monasteries could be seen
with the evidences of prehistoric settlements. Directly south of Sigiriya the ancient tank bund of
the Sigiriya Maha Weva could be identified.

References:
1. Ponnamperuma, Senani (2013). The Story of Sigiriya. Panique Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-0-
9873451-1-0.
2. Bandaranayake, Senake; Aramudala, Madhyama Saṃskr̥ tika (2005). Sigiriya: City, Palace,
Gardens, Monasteries, Painting. Central Cultural Fund. ISBN 978-955-631-146-4.
3. Geiger, Wilhelm. Culavamsa Being The More Recent Part Of Mahavamsa 2 Vols, Ch 39.
1929
4. "The Sigiriya Story". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
5. Forbes, Jonathan. Eleven Years in Ceylon. London: Richard Benley, 1841.
6. "Sigiriya – The fortress in the sky". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2004-10-10.
7. "Sigiriya: the most spectacular site in South Asia". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 2006-08-03.
8. Senake Bandaranayake and Madhyama Saṃskrtika Aramudala. Sigriya. 2005, page 38
9. "Sigiriya Frescoes, Sri Lanka". Retrieved 11 December 2013.
10. "Sigiriya Mirror Wall, Sri Lanka". Retrieved 11 December 2013.
11. S. Paranavitana, Sigiri Graffiti. Being Sinhalese verses of the eighth, ninth and tenth
centuries, 2 vols. London: Oxford University Press, for the Archaeological Survey, Ceylon,
1956.
12. Mirror Wall Translation
13. Ponnamperuma, Senani. "About Sigiriya or Simhagiri". The Story of Sigiriya. Panique Pty
Ltd. Retrieved 9 March 2013.