Ruins of the central palace
Ruins of the central palace
The image shows the ruins of the central palace, part of the magnificent palace complex built on the summit of the Lion Rock of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka.
The summit is flatter with a slight downward slope from west to east and north to south and covers an area of approximately 9 acres. Because of this gradient, the summit contains multiple terraces at different levels, created by the retaining walls filled with soil on top of the rock. These terraces made it easier to build palace structures and gardens.
The terrace containing the central palace is on the upper west side and is at the highest point on the summit. Experts believe it had multiple stories, which allowed the royal family to experience the 360-degree panoramic view of the stunningly beautiful landscape. In addition, it was likely used as a watch tower by Kashyapa’s army to keep watch on the intruders.
The limestone staircase and the brick walls are part of the original structure. Running along the border of this rectangular construction is a narrow corridor paved with limestone slabs, a common occurrence in this complex.
Rock Summit Pages
– Central Palace Ruins
– East Palace Complex Ruins
– Throne
– Ruins in the eastern section with the rock-cut throne
– Boulder Pond 2
– Ruins in the southern section
– Central Bathing Pool – A view from the southeast corner
– Central Bathing Pool – A view from the northeast corner
– Central Bathing Pool – A view from the southwest corner
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