By MOOK Scenic Spots / Jun(e), compiled and reported
Ever since Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film *Castle in the Sky* was released in 2002, the image of a floating rock city has left a deep impression on fans, prompting the discovery of many similar sites worldwide. Sigiriya in Sri Lanka is an ancient palace perched atop a 200-meter-high lion-shaped rock. Famous for the Sigiriya Frescoes, it is the only non-religious mural art preserved in Sri Lankan history. This fortress-like citadel was built in the 5th century during the reign of King Kashyapa and is as renowned as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Borobudur in Indonesia, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and the Ajanta Caves in India.
An ancient palace resembling the Castle in the Sky (Image source / Pearl Ceylon)
Sigiriya Architecture (Image sources / Sigiriya, Drriss & Marrionn)
Sigiriya Reservoirs (Image sources / Sigiriya, Drriss & Marrionn)
Like a massive rock that fell from the sky, Lion Rock stands abruptly on a vast plain. The site is surrounded by a moat and features palaces, fortresses, water gardens, frescoes, and a large reservoir measuring 27 meters by 21 meters. Legend says that in the 5th century, a prince who usurped the throne moved the capital here to escape revenge, while another tale claims it was once a grand meditation site.
Sigiriya (Image source / Sigiriya, Drriss & Marrionn)
Sigiriya Frescoes (Image source / Sigiriya, Drriss & Marrionn)
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