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Approximate travel time from Deer Park Hotel: 1 hour
Desperation can also drive a man to greatness. It must have been a mixture of fear and guilt for having his own father slain and stealing the throne from right under his half brother's nose that motivated King Kasyapa to erect this magnificent fortress – 'Palace in the Sky' – in the 5th Century A.D.
Out of nowhere the rock rises, towering 600 feet above you. From the base you can't see the palace, which means you'll have to climb the equivalent of 75 floors up. A fairly healthy person would need about two hours to get up and down, but once you're up there, you'll find that just being on top looking down at the vast forest below is well worth the climb.
Halfway up, you'll see the Sigiriya Damsels – frescoes depicting nearly naked nymphets believed to be Kasyapa's concubines. Out of the 500 or so original paintings, only 26 have survived mutilation by monks who later occupied the fortress. Then there's the three-meter high Mirror Wall where visitors to the fortress, more than a thousand years ago, penned their thoughts on the Sigiriya Damsels.
Eventually you get to a flat piece of land known as the Lion's Terrace, where a further flight of steps leads you through what used to be the lion's mouth, into the throat. That's the only way in. Sigiriya means 'Lion Rock', and now we can see why.
Once you're at the summit, first congratulate yourself for having made it. Then look across into the jungle and see if you can spot a few elephants, probably ant-sized from your vantage point. And finally, marvel at the buildings, of which the Royal Summer House is particularly noteworthy. Here you'll find everything carved out of living rock, from thrones to rock-and-water gardens to bathing pools.
To think that all this came about, because one man killed his father. |
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 Best Available RateEnjoy the best of what this intriguing destination has to offer with Deer Park Hotel�s Best Available Rate!
 Best Of AngsanaPutting together the ultimate getaway is hassle-free with the Best of Angsana. This two-night package is specially crafted to highlight the most stunning experience of Deer Park Hotel, with the inclusion of one signature dining experience for two, one deluxe spa treatment from Angsana Spa, daily breakfasts, and accommodation in an Angsana Cottage. |
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 View MapsSituated on the banks of the Giritale Reservoir within the district capital of Polonnaruwa, five hours by road from the capital, Colombo, and Bandaranaike International Airport.  AnuradhapuraThe first capital of Sri Lanka – and remaining so for 1,400 years – Anuradhapura was abandoned and swallowed by the dry-zone jungle two centuries after Vijayabahu I had retaken the country and retained the Cholas capital at Polonnaruwa in the 11th Century.  DambullaAbout 12 miles from Sigiriya you’ll come to the Raja Maha Vihara, otherwise known as the Dambulla Cave Temple or Golden Temple. This is actually a series of five temples that finds its origin in the Anuradhapura period (1st Century B.C.)  KandyThe Hill Capital may be some distance from Deer Park Hotel, but what you can do is to stop by for half a day on your way back to Colombo for your flight home. As the last major capital of the Sinhala kings, Kandy is definitely a place not to be missed if you want your Sri Lanka trip to be complete.  Parakrama Samudra“Let not one drop of water reach the sea without first serving man.” These were the words of 12th Century King Parakramabahu I, who was responsible for one of the largest man-made reservoirs – the Parakrama Samudra, or Sea of King Parakrama. This astonishing tank is larger in size than even the Colo  PolonnaruwaAs early as the 7th Century, when Anuradhapura was still the capital, Sri Lankan kings had made Polonnaruwa their country retreat. With the Cholas’ conquest of Anuradhapura in the 11th Century, Polonnaruwa succeeded it as the capital and remained so for the next 200 years - even when Vijayabahu I ev  SigiriyaDesperation can also drive a man to greatness. It must have been a mixture of fear and guilt for having his own father slain and stealing the throne from right under his half brother's nose that motivated King Kasyapa to erect this magnificent fortress – 'Palace in the Sky' – in the 5th Century A.D.  Minneriya-Giritale National ParkA flapping sea of black invades the emerald Minneriya Tank, as a flock of two thousand cormorants nosedive for fish. Later, elephants trudge by, drinking from the same reservoir.  Wasgamuwa National ParkLong before wildlife conservation became fashionable, Sri Lanka already had areas of jungle marked out for conservation. One such case is that of the Wasgamuwa National Park, a portion of which was declared a Strict Nature Reserve as early as 1938.  Other National ParksSri Lanka is full of forests, and it is natural that as one of the pioneers of conservation the country contains more national parks, or nature reserves, than you have time to visit.  Sun & SeaAs the shimmering horizon disappears into the distant azure sky, tall gusts of waves surf towards the palm-fringed sandy beaches encircling Sri Lanka.  HistoryTaprobane, Serendib, Emerald Island and The Teardrop of India - Sri Lanka has earned many endearing monikers for its colorful past.  ReligionIt is worthy of note that an eyetooth remains the most significant religious symbol in Sri Lanka since Buddhism was first introduced to the Sinhalese in 250 B.C. This is no ordinary pointed conical tooth – it is believed to have belonged to Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise more popularly worshipped as  Tea & SpicesWhat does “The Hound of the Baskervilles” have to do with Ceylon tea? Read on.  WeatherSri Lanka is blessed with a tropical paradise climate. Most days are hot, humid and sunny with temperatures averaging between 27 ~ 31°C. A hat and sunscreen will be essential if you are planning to spend the day outdoors, whether romping around a hertitage site or lazing at the beach. |
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