King Kashyapa chose Sigiriya because he believed it would give his forces a strategic advantage if attacked. In the interest of self-preservation, King Kashyapa immediately began work on his stone fortress. It was ambitious and probably somewhat rooted in fear King Kashyapa had killed the king and driven away the rightful heir to the throne. One of his first orders of business was to relocate the royal seat to Sigiriya from the traditional capital of Anuradhapura. With his dad and brother out of the picture, Kashyapa crowned himself king in 477 CE. But the message was clear, and it sent Moggallana fleeing to Southern India to escape a similar fate. Lore says Kashyapa showed little mercy on his father, walling him up while still alive. Determined to stake his claim, Kashyapa schemed with the commander of the army to overthrow Dhatusena. One of his illegitimate sons, Kashyapa, wanted the throne – but knew his full-blood brother Moggallana was next in line. In 476 CE, King Dhatusena ruled over Sri Lanka. The site was a temporary capital from 477-495 CE when Sri Lanka was under the rule of King Kashyapa. The rock is known as Sīhāgiri, meaning “Lion Rock,” a nod to the giant animal carved from stone which greeted visitors at the entrance. Historians believe the region has been inhabited since the 3rd century BCE, making the site one of historical and archaeological significance to Sri Lanka. Located in the Matale District of the Central Province ( map), the column of rock is somewhat central to the country. It is known as “ the Pearl of the Indian Ocean,” a tribute to the island’s natural beauty, people – even its shape. Sri Lanka lies just off the southeastern coast of India, a small island about the size of West Virginia (or a tad smaller than Austria or Scotland for European readers). Ultimately the rock was unable to save its king, but it succeeded in preserving ancient Sinhalese culture. It was established as the stronghold of a rogue king over 1,500 years ago, and today the Sigiriya complex stands as one of the earliest preserved examples of ancient urban planning. The rock is known as Sigiriya ( see-gee-REE-yah) and holds a special place in the island’s cultural history. It reaches 660 feet tall and features frescoes, graffiti, and landscaped gardens. Deep in the middle of Sri Lanka, a massive column of rock juts out from the green tropical forest.
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