The man made steps disappear and the mor natural footholds take form. You start climbing parallel to the rock and the grooves in theboulders become your guide. The sound of the forest is calming but it reminds you that you are in the domain of the wild. One look up and a family of Toque Macaques scurry along disturbed by our presence. The steps end at a landing, wich consists of alarge natural cave that faces the east, housing a series of rooms, which may have belonged to the temple complex and served as meditation caves. The face of the rock, which makes the roofs of the caves, has remnants of paintings. Pidurangala is however renowned for the 49 1/2 ft reclining Buddha statue, which is said to be the longest Buddha statue to be built in brick, clay and limestone that has been placed within this csve. Prof: Senarath Paranavithana and H.C.P. Bell through thir research have confirmed that this statue belongs to the Sigiriya period.
Passing the natural pond,you soon find that any form of steps dissppear and there are only large boulders in your path. We climbed and scrambled over rock and boulders and soon there was an opening just big enough for asingle person to squeeze through. Sigiriya stood in the view, majestic a ever. The Lion paws of the great fortress could be seen from this point. The massive rock on top provided us shade from the afternooon sun. As we reached the summit a 360 degree view was in front of us. The mountain ranges in the distance were visible and the landscape gradually changed from paddy filds to forest to... far far away... It is said that a small Chaitya stood atop Pidurangala, however though bricks are visible, a small patch of forest has engulfed the structure. From afar this vegetation is akin to an oasis in a desert. For years Pidurangala has been in the shadows of its neighbour, Sigiriya... But unknown tomany this rock monastery has arich history and an experience that can be shared by most Pidurangala has come out of the shadows and can now be seen by all
No comments:
Post a Comment