Exploring the Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka
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- čas přidán 14. 06. 2024
- Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri lanka (aka Lion Rock) is the #1 attraction in the country. In this episode I feature this popular tourist known as the 8th wonder of the world. It's also one of eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. Sigiriya is truly a remarkable place, so I hope you enjoy this video.
Located in a rural part of the country Sigiriya was built around the 3rd century B.C. and was used as a monastery for 800 years. By the fifth century Sigiriua became a royal palace.
This national monument is essentially broken up into two parts, the massive royal gardens at the base, and the royal palace at the top of the monolithic rock. In order to reach the top, it requires a semi arduous hike up some 1200 plus steps, which will take you 45 minutes to an hour to climb (allocate at least 3 hours to climb and explore). It’s best to do it early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the heat of the day.
Sigiriya is considered an engineering marvel due to the advanced skills required to construct the fortress from sheer rock. The terraced gardens are formed from the natural hill at the base of the Sigiriya rock. A series of terraces rises from the pathways of the boulder garden to the staircases on the rock. These have been created by the construction of brick walls, and are situated in semi concentric way around the rock.
Lion Rock (the English translation for Sigiriya), towers more than 600 feet from the valley below and is 1144 feet above sea level. You can see here how it gets its name Lion Rock with these two huge paws at the gate of the fortress. Apparently there used to be a lion head at one point, but sheered off by erosion over time.
The gardens are divided into water gardens, terraced and boulder gardens. The subsurface has a complex hydraulic systems used during ancient times that are still functional today. During the rainy season, the water channels get filled up and the water is then efficiently circulated throughout the entire fortress; a system considered too advanced for its period, so it begs the question where this technology came from.
Sigiriya is a massive compound to explore, around every bend is something new to see, including an area where a massive wall was covered in elaborate frescos, unfortunately only a few survive today.
I spent a month in Sri Lanka and Sigirya was certainly one of the top highlights for me. If you wish to explore Sri Lanka, including Sigirya, check out my friends at www.Lanka-Excursions-Holidays... and be sure to ask for Nuwan.
When I went up in 1980, the rock was covered in thick jungle and we climbed up on shaky, rickety bamboo ladders. The top had not been excavated yet and was all jungle too, with a wall sticking out of the ground here and there and only one place where you could look down to the lake below. It was dangerous going up and my little arms were shaking so badly, I was worried that I couldn't hold on to the ladder and would fall. My flip-flop fell off and hit a famous "Le Monde" reporter on the head who was climbing up below me. "Merde!" That's how I learned how to say "Shit!" in French, always more elegant! Sri Lankans have done an incredible amount of work to clear those cliffs down to the bare rock you see now, and none of the surrounding ruins had been excavated from the jungle then either. I'd love to go back and see it now! I was 33 then, Im' 75 now. TIme flies, Make it fun!
Hey Wendy, thank you so much for sharing your story. That's awesome. I hope you can make it bake again one day. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
God bless you, sir
Both the royal gardens at the base and the royal palace at the top look like incredible places to explore! At 60 floors though, I think we can safely upgrade the hike to the top from "Semi-Arduous" to "Full-On Arduous"! 😄 OMG looks so worth the climb, and what an incredible experience to see those views. 👍 You got some gorgeous shots! 🎥 Thanks for sharing your once-in-a-lifetime experience with us. ♥️
It really is a marvelous place to explore. Thanks so much for watching. 🙏🏻
Really a High-Quality Production .. Good Job Mike
So glad you like it Cham. Thanks for watching. Check out this comprehensive road trip guide I just published on Sri Lanka: mikesroadtrip.com/sri-lanka-road-trip-guide/ Cheers, Mike
Wow, this looks like a wonderful place to visit. How amazing! Thanks for sharing. Hope I can make it one day.
It really is a wonderful place to visit/explore. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
I'm surprised you don't have more views and subscribers, since your videos are very informative and awesome. I would love to see the views from atop Sigiriya; it sounds absolutely breathtaking!
Thank you so much for the kind words. I hear this often and don't understand it myself. Hope you make it to Sigiriya one day soon, the views are indeed breathtaking on a nice day. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
Thanks for video on beautiful Sigiriya Rocks, Sri Lanka.
Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Looks/sounds like a really interesting place to visit. Would love to visit Sri Lanka one day.
It really is a fascinating place. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
Cool, cool. For some reason Sigiriya came up in my feed. Takes me back a lazy 21 years. Still as majestic now as it was back then. Cheers 🙏
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks so much for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other travel videos. Cheers, Mike
Wow, this place looks like an absolutely fascinating place!
It really is a fascinating place. Hope you make it there one day. Cheers, Mike
most incredible sights in the country, amazing
It really is remarkable! Thanks for watching. I hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
This is one of the most incredible sights in the country! Great presentation! Love the drone shots
It sure is. Thank you so much! Yeah, the drone shots really give this massive place perspective. Thanks for watching! ;-)
czcams.com/video/eGypZdRfquo/video.html you will love this view too
Love from Sri Lanka
@@RoadTripTravel any permits to fly a mini category (
@@see_it_through_my_eyeNot sure about lightweight drones. I do know they are pretty strict. I was on a press trip, so the permits were taken care of for me. Sorry I can't be more help, but appreciate you watching. Cheers, Mike
Amazing.
It really is an amazing place. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
So amazing.
It really is an amazing place. Thanks for watching. Hope you’ll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Great video.....would love to visit there!
Thank you so much. Hope you make it there one day soon. In the meantime, please check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Well this video has earned a sub from me. I intend to go explore this place, along with several other places in southern America.
Love the vibes of the channel.
Thank you so much, really appreciate it. Cheers, Mike
This is amazing. I would never have the means to visit. I appreciate having such a personalized view of Sigiriya. Thanks a million, Mike.
I wonder if there is a way to see this in VR...
So glad you enjoyed it. Not sure about VR, but that would be amazing with the aerial footage. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers, Mike
appreciate your videos sir,keep safe always👌
Thank you so much, I appreciate that. Cheers, Mike
Dope video!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
Impressive. Thanks for sharing. Nature Love💚
It really is. My pleasure. Thank you for watching. Cheers, Mike
@@RoadTripTravel Your work for this explore is really awesome.I am always addicted for nature and green field vlogs. You done a gread job. Cheers 🙌🙌
@@idalvalan Thank you so much, really appreciate it. 🙏🏻
@@RoadTripTravel 🥰
We have lost ton of skills technology in the past.
Indeed. It is fascinating how much technology from the past we don't understand today.
There is stream built connecting two man-made lakes in Sri Lanka (I think right around the same region) that has a constant slope of 1 feet for every 1 mile. Its two millennium's old. I don't know its name but that is next level of engineering.
@@nukestrom5719 Its name is Jaya Ganga.
It isn’t lost brother it is hidden
😢
been there, awesome!
How cool! It really is! Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Wow: 1,200+ steps?! I ran out of breath climbing to the top floor of the 12-story building I worked in downtown when the elevator was out once. 😝 But what spectacular scenery once you got there! 👀 Thanks for sharing! (Monkey caption: "You missed a spot." 😄)
Ha, yeah, it was a long way up indeed. Yes, beautiful place and scenery for sure. lol...thanks for the monkey caption, and, for watching. Cheers, Mike
Dude i recently climbed adam's peak and that is at least 12000 steps..took 10 hours
ADAM PEAK history belongs to hindusiam _ saivam and Tamil
, but it was twisted reasonly for political reasons.
Adam Peak in English original called in Tamil Sivan oli patha mali and singhala Sri patha.
Meaning
Siva_ lord Siva, oli_ light/power, patha_ Footprint, mali_ mountain ⛰️ believe to be power of the Lord Siva Footprint(light/ rays) reached on top of the mountain. This is the original history our forefathers worship all these places. Sadly, reason times, the original history and the name changed
Buddah never visited the island or his tooth or bone, not on the island. It is all politics rather history and attacks to tourists
Tamil people are victims.
Sivan oli patham mali😮
This place is absolutely amazing! I hope to visit this in the future. Very well done and informative video. 👍
It really is very cool. Hope you make it one day. Thank you so much for watching, and, for the kudos. Much appreciated. Cheers, Mike
The top of the rock appears to have been truncated. I would suspect that under this city is an older city and the location might have been a landing pad.
Interesting theory. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
Beautiful 🤩
Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
All i see is minecraft lol. Thanks for the vid, its amazing !
Haha, I hear ya. Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
Such marvellous beauty. Sadly we have become too dumb now to build anything near to this... especially to last so long
It sure is. Oh, you are so right! Sadly.
Great Walk and thanks a lot for taking me there with you. God bless and surely it takes another human like me to get see the world from my home.
My pleasure, glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching, hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Thank you ❤
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. I hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Amazing shots! Did you have to get permission to fly the drone near the rock?
Thank you! Yes, I worked with the tourism folks. Had to have a representative with me every time I flew. Thanks for watching, hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
We are traveling Sri Lanka in August and Sigiriya is definitely on our list. Do you think it is doable with kids from age 8? Want to see more, so I will be following your channel from now on. Good luck from a fellow new travelvlogger. 😉
Oh, how cool. What a great experience for the kids. This is a good question, I would say for most of it they shouldn’t have a problem, but there are a couple of steep ladder parts where you will wanna keep your eye on them. There were definitely other families who had kids there close to the same age. Thinking back at my eight year old athletic self, I don’t think I would’ve had a problem. Do you try and hike it in the morning when it’s much cooler, and don’t forget to bring plenty of water, and maybe a few snacks for the kids. 😉 I’ll be posting more stuff from Sri Lanka in the coming months, so please do stay tuned. Thanks so much for watching. Cheers, Mike
I really want to live there ❤😂
That would be very cool. Thanks for watching. Hope you will check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
The water on the top; only from the rain?
Nope. Somehow it still pumps water to that.
Beautifulandmawalvs in segiriyaproudforthasrilanka
Thanks for watching.
How do you know that information that they carried him to the top and that ppl in the front was shorter then them in the back ,
From our Sri Lankan tour guide. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Enjoyed your video..and thank you very much for sharing that. However if possible please correct. As mentioned in the reports and archeological proofs, the servants didn't carry the king to the top. The palace had an elevator system.
Thank you, and thanks for watching! That's interesting, I saw no evidence of an elevator system and was with an archeologist on the tour. Can you site the resource in which you learned this? Cheers, Mike
2:49 a ghost!!! 😬😬🥶🥶😱😱
Ha, perhaps. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. If you really want to see a ghost, check out this video from Vicksburg, MS: czcams.com/video/7sDpKOxr_oo/video.html
This is Africa's Machu Piccu!!
Yes! But I think you mean Asia. Thanks for watching, hope you will check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Namo buddhay🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for watching. Hope you;ll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
I’m surprised you got photos of the frescos considering you weren’t allowed to take photos of them…
Actually, my GF at the time had photos from an previous visit some 10 years earlier before they banned the taking of photographs, so that's how I got the images. Thanks for watching, hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Jai Shri Ram. U can sense Maa Sita here
Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
The rock has a big history.but lion rock make by kashpaka king. My contry is sri lanka
Thanks for the info, and, for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other stuff. Cheers, Mike
Wonder of the asian.sigiriya is the best creation of ancient King's and I love my country sri lanka forever .this is proud to be sri lanka 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
You have a wonderful country. Thank you so much for watching. All the best, Mike
Caption:
Ok sir I am going to prescribe you some 'Docusate'. Don't worry, within 24 hours, you'll be back to throwing **** at people.
It is indeed a monolithic rock. Do you realize there is a pyramid covered in trees right behind? This place is prediluvian. If rocks could only talk.
Sure is. No, I did not realize there was a covered pyramid. Ha, not kidding, would be interesting to learn what the rocks know. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Sounds like the same people who built the sphinx
Ha, could be. Thanks for watching, hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
what happens if the servants trip and the king just rolls down the stairs off the cliff 🤣
Haha...I think we all know the effects of gravity. 🤣 Thanks so much for watching. Cheers, Mike
That's how democracy must have been invented :D
Servents didnt carry the king, this place had an ancient elevator worked by using big iron chains, that’s how the king got up here
this is the place where ravana lived
Yes. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
It’s build 3rd century AD not BC
Thanks for the correction and for watching. Cheers, Mike
😮💨
Thanks for watching.
All that lost technology but not one elevator?
Haha...thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
@@RoadTripTravel just having a little fun, lol. The video was very nice. Subscribed!
@@beingblackThank you, much appreciated!
There were elevators in the palace those days and servants didn't carry the king.
@@thamashasamarasinghe3095 proof?
Sigiriya is Ravana palace it is 5000BC old greatest civilization history it's called sivagiry mali
It is amazing how old it is and how great it was. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Mike
😂😂 it's a history not Mythology
@Sidhant Kamble it's the greatest history of hindusiam and Tamil from Indus Valley civilizations, from 7000BC to 5000BC old hindusiam and Tamil from Kumari kandam or Kumari Nadu.
Anceint Ealam then Srilanka history belong to Ravanan era. he was lord Siva devoty, hindusiam _saivam and Tamil belong to Anceint Ealam it has called Sivapumy,Nagadepham, Ealam/Ilankapury 🛕🛕🛕🛕🛕🙏😍
@@rathy_v Thanks for watching and sharing this info. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
@@sidhantkamble5191 Rich history. Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Petrified tree stump....remains of a giant tree cut down..called a mess in English....this Mesa was built on top of ...and we have ruins you see
Thanks for watching. Hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike
Raavan 👹👺
Thanks for watching.
Engineering wonder of Sigiriya
czcams.com/video/uCu64B8Jym4/video.html
That was incomplete
In what way?
Wow, love his moronic theory about the midget palanquin bearers 😂😂😂😂
Surely other people realise how hard it would be to find really tall strong men of matching heights for the rear and really strong short men for the front......
Those steps are steeeeep, the hight difference would need to be about 5ft.
Yer im shure they found a large collection of giants and midgets to carry the royal family up that hill, building a comfortable seat with low handles at the rear and higher handles at the front is obviously waaay to hard😂😂😂
Thank you for your expert opinion! Professor...?
This is Indian Civilization, It is greatest in all over world for now and forever
Thank you for watching, hope you'll check out some of my other videos. Cheers, Mike