Site icon Seerendipity Tours and Travels

SIGIRIYA FRESCOES PAINTINGS

Sanjeewa Padmal (Seerendipity)

Sigiriya frescoes paintings, the technique of foremost wall paintings of any period in any part of the world…Lovely maidens that reside in the Sigiriya fresco paintings have dressed their hair piled up high to show their oval face of lustrous complexions. They have heavy breasts and their eyes express moods from vivacity to serenity. They wear elaborate jewels on their hair, ears, and arms. Large hooped earrings dangle from their ears and they wear armlets as well as bangles.

Table of Contents

SIGIRIYA FRESCOES PAINTINGS

Sigiriya frescoes paintings, the technique of foremost wall paintings of any period in any part of the world…Lovely maidens that reside in the Sigiriya fresco paintings have dressed their hair piled up high to show their oval face of lustrous complexions. They have heavy breasts and their eyes express moods from vivacity to serenity. They wear elaborate jewels on their hair, ears, and arms. Large hooped earrings dangle from their ears and they wear armlets as well as bangles.

Sigiriya rock fort is a 5th-century palace complex with landscaped gardens, moats, swimming pools, fountains, paintings, and a palace. At the top of the monolithic rock, at an elevation of 500 meters above sea level, King Kashyapa built his royal palace. The frescoes are to be found halfway down the track on the upward journey.

WHAT IS SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS?

The iconic tourist attraction sits in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka with its counterparts such as the Dambulla cave temple, and Polonnaruwa. Sigiriya rock fortress tucked away 150 km from Colombo and Sigiriya is a popular 2-days and 1-day trip place in Sri Lanka. The lofty rock of Sigiriya lies about 9 km to the northeast of the turn at Inamaluwa, Matale District, between the 97th and 98th-mileposts on the Colombo-Habarana main road. The approach is a good tarred motorable road, and the convenience of visitors is catered to by a large number of hotels. The closest rail terminus is Matale, Central Province, from where a bus service plies the distance of 61 km to Sigiriya. The direct route from Colombo to Sigiriya via Kurunegala and Dambulla is a distance of 166 km, which can be conveniently covered in about 4 hours of comfortable driving.

The paintings of Sigiriya are one striking feature of the Sigiriya ancient site. If you are wondering what else is there at Sigiriya rock fortress to see, click on this article “SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS SRI LANKA“.

WHAT ARE SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS AND FRESCOES?

Sigiriya frescoes, better known as paintings of Sigiriya, are part of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle in the north-central province, 200km from Colombo, and comprise a breathtaking collection of rock paintings. According to the archaeologists, these paintings date back to the 5th century AD and include drawings of beautiful ladies, animals, people, and musical instruments as well as messages, offerings, and even laws inscribed in ancient languages. Here visitors will also find a museum with a collection of artefacts discovered during the excavations at Sigiriya ancient site, a must-visit for learning more about the rich historical past of Sigiriya.

Sigiriya frescoes are a set of paintings drawn by ancient artisans. These ancient paintings originated in the 5th century AD. A large number of paintings are destroyed over the last centuries by the wrath of rain, sun, and wind. At the moment, little more than 2 dozen of paintings can be witnessed within the Sigiriya archaeological site.

Sigiriya-Dambulla’s day tour starts from Colombo and other major tourist resorts on the west coast. The tour takes you to 2 major historical places in Sri Lanka Sigiriya rock fortress and Dambulla golden temple. The private tour includes entire ground transportation, a live guide, all entrance fees, and all taxes.

1. SIGIRIYA AND DAMBULLA ONE DAY TOUR

This is a one-day trip that starts from Colombo and includes visits to the Sigiriya rock fortress, Sigiriya paintings, and Dambulla golden cave temple. The one-day Sigiriya and Dambulla tour is one of the very popular day trips offered by Seerendipity tours. This one-day trip attracts a large number of travellers every day. The trip can be booked not only from Colombo but also from all beach resorts on the western and southern coasts. If you wondering how does this tour itinerary looks like, click here, “SIGIRIYA, DAMBULLA ONE DAY TOUR“.

2. THE ESSENCE OF SRI LANKA -4 DAYS TOUR

The essence of Sri Lanka is a 4 day Sri Lanka tour. This 4 days tour includes many important tourist attractions such as Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Kandy and you will be able to witness the beautiful paintings of Sigiriya as you visit Sigiriya rock during the trip. The tour also includes many other beautiful places in Sri Lanka. The tour includes mountain scenery, Kandy, wildlife reserves, bustling cities, botanical gardens, and many more. The essence of Sr Lanka 4 days tour cost US$ 395 per person on double occupancy. Click here for more information, “THE ESSENCE OF SRI LANKA“.

3. SRI LANKA HERITAGE TOUR – 6 DAYS TOUR

Sri Lanka heritage tour is a 6 days trip with visits to many UNESCO world heritage sites such as Sigiriya rock, and Dambulla cave temple. You will be visiting the Sigiriya rock fortress on the very first day of the trip and it allows you to see the Sigiriya painting at the beginning of the tour. It is a perfect instruction for the Sri Lanka cultural triangle, wildlife reserves, tea gardens in the mountains, and wide sandy beaches on the lowland. If you feel it is the kind of program you need click here for more information, “SRI LANKA HERITAGE TOUR“.

4. THE ESSENCE OF SRI LANKA -4 DAYS TOUR

The essence of Sri Lanka is a 4 days trip, giving you a complete insight into Sri Lanka’s rich historical past. The cultural triangle of Sri Lanka harbours hundreds of crumbling historical monuments and there are many UNESCO world heritage sites among them. If you are wondering how to book this trip to visit the Sigiriya rock fortress, Sigiriya paintings, and other monuments, click here, “THE ESSENCE OF SRI LANKA CULTURE”.

5. SIMPLY SRI LANKA – 8 DAYS TOUR

Simply, Sri Lanka is an 8 days program that allows you to scratch a large part of the island at your own pace. The private tour includes wildlife reserves, Sri Lanka upcountry resorts, the cultural hub of Kandy, wide sandy beaches, Colombo, colonial forts, and many many more, if you need more information click here, “SIMPLY SRI LANKA“.

6. SRI LANKA ESSENTIAL TOUR -11 DAYS TOUR

If you look for a very relaxing and easy-going Sri Lanka private tour with visits to important tourist attractions such as Sigiriya painting, you can count on the “Sri Lanka essential tour”. Very popular program among foreign travellers with plenty of time for sightseeing and relaxation. If you need more information on this trip click here, “SRI LANKA ESSENTIAL TOUR“.

7. SRI LANKA CLASSIC -7 DAYS TOUR

Sri Lanka classic is a 7 days tour itinerary. This multi-day trip is a perfect introduction to Sri Lanka’s culture, history, wildlife, nature, and beaches. On the second day of the trip, the guests are visiting Sigiriya frescoes and other important places of the Sigiriya rock fortress. If you are wondering where to get more details on this trip, “SRI LANKA 7 DAYS TOUR”.

On this 7-day Sri Lanka private trip you will be visiting ancient monuments in the cultural triangle, tea country, Spice and herbal garden, wildlife reserve, botanic gardens, Idyllic west coast beaches, plus enjoy a breath-taking view on the hill country rail journey from Peradeniya to Nanuoya, learn to cook a Sri Lanka meal and many more. Towards the end of the trip, you will have time to relax on the pristine beaches of Sri Lanka’s west coast.

HISTORY OF SIGIRIYA

Sigiriya is on the stage of Sri Lankan history only to play a short-lived part as the capital of a parricide prince (King Kashayapa), before receding to the obscurity whence it emerged. The dark deed that led to the founding of the fortified capital at Sigiriya was the killing of his own father by prince Kashyap. Kashyap fearing the inevitable return of his half-brother Moggalana, seeking revenge on his crime, decided to seek refuge in the inaccessible stronghold of Sigiriya.

Sigiriya, a popular UNESCO world heritage site in Sri Lanka is known to the world as one of the greatest inventions of ancient engineers and artisans of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya holds a reputation for being one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world and Sigiriya’s frescoes paintings are another reason for its popularity among travellers. The mystery of World-renowned Sigiriya frescoes paintings (5th Century AD) is not solved until today and it is not clear who painted the beautiful maidens, despite the much archaeological research at the site.

Sigiriya is one of the most popular world heritage sites on the island and is included in most Sri Lanka road trips due to its historical and artistic value. Sigiriya lies within the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka and it is only 15 km from Dambulla golden cave temple.

RE-DISCOVERING SIGIRIYA ROCK AND PAINTINGS

Murray an Englishman was the first one to take on the arduous task of climbing the precarious rock in the late 18th century and was successful in making drawings of the frescoes. From then onward, there was no stopping the archaeologists and historians who climbed the rock to know more about the intricate designs. Even at present, the work is going on.

In the above picture, a tourist is looking at the beautiful maidens in the Sigiriya fresco pocket, these maidens owe their existence to the skilled artisans of ancient Sri Lanka, and the figures are still in very good shape. However, a large number of paintings had been destroyed over the last centuries at the wrath of nature as it was fully uncovered to the rain, wind, and sun.

Greatly inspired by the Sigiriya beauties many viewers had inscribed verses to them on the walls below the mirror wall and walls of the caves below. They are known as Sigiriya graffiti and are dated from the 6th Century AD to the 14th century.

Nearly 700 of them have been identified and recorded. Such revealing comments on the paintings provide an insight into the cultivated sensibilities of the time and its appreciation of art and beauty. A male admirer had scratched his verse as “the ladies who wear golden chains on their breasts beckon me, now I have seen these resplendent ladies, heaven has lost its appeal for me”.

IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHERE TO GET SOME MORE DETAILS ABOUT SIGIRIYA ROCK, PLEASE CHECK MY ARTICLE ON “SIGIRIYA ROCK FORTRESS“.

EXPLORE SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS, AND DAMBULLA CAVE TEMPLE ON 1 DAY TRIP FROM COLOMBO, BENTOTA AND KALUTARA USD 70 P.P

REMAINS OF SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS

The remains of the paintings referred to in the Sigiri graffiti are to be found high above the gallery sheltered from the heat of the sun, the wind, and rain that has assailed Sigiriya for centuries, to arouse the wonder and admiration of visitors to this day. Many of the verses scribbled on the gallery wall refer to as many as five hundred figures painted on the rock and some even speak of the deterioration of the paintings that had set in by about the 13th century.

The main entrance to the summit of Sigiriya rock was by a gallery built of brick, walled high, and paved with limestone flags. This ambulatory, punctuated by short flights of steps was made to run along the western face of the great rock and continued on the north as a rather steep stairway. The western portion of Sigiriya gallery was set along a collar-like declivity, thereby protecting the paintings from the rain by the overhanging rock along the greater part of its length.

According to the archaeologists, the system with which the old engineer had built the gallery and the wall on and around these ledges is a wonderful piece of technical skill. On the sloping irregular surface of the rock and on the keys provided by the ledges, a course was laid on masonry until a flat surface was built as a gallery and later paved.

According to the archaeologists, the system that had been used by the ancient artisans to build the gallery and the wall on and around these ledges is a marvellous piece of engineering skill.

Course upon a course of brickwork was laid on the sloping irregular surface of the rock and upon the keys provided by the ledges until a flat surface was built up to serve as the gallery and later paved.

The outermost course of brick laid on the lower ledge was continued upward with a batter to form the gallery wall which was then plastered.

This 3-day Sri Lanka tour includes important cultural and historical monuments such as Sigiriya rock, Dambulla golden temple, Polonnaruwa and Kandy. The tour also includes wildlife tours, a spice/herbal garden, Peradeniya botanical garden, and many other places.

EARLY WRITINGS OF BRITISH VISITORS ABOUT THE PAINTINGS

From these early writings, from the records left by 19th-century British visitors, and the remnants of patches of plaster in protected areas on the western side of the rock, it is evident that there were in earlier times far more paintings on the Sigiriya rock that can be seen at present. In fact, the western surface of the main rock, below the drip ledge cut at a high level, was once covered with paintings.

THE EXTENT OF THE REMAINING FRESCOES

All that remains of these paintings in a good degree of preservation is found in a pocket about halfway up the rock and extending to a length of 67 feet, cut in the steep face of the western side some 44 feet above the gallery. Nineteen figures and a fragment depicting women were to be seen in this pocket to which access is gained by a spiral staircase constructed in 1938.

VANDALISM OF FRESCOES

In mid-October, 1967, vandals had hacked away a major part of two of these paintings and daubed paint on a total of fourteen figures which included the hacked panels. Since then these paintings (excepting the two damaged portions) have been cleaned and restored to what is generally accepted as being in a better condition than obtained before the vandalism.

Ultimate 2 days trip to Sri Lanka cultural triangle

NATURE OF SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS

Sigiriya’s frescoes paintings are exquisitely painted in brilliant colours and these paintings resemble the Ajantha painting in India. The fresco does not show any religious influence and they represent King Kashyapa’s court.

The inscription found at the site, suggests that there had been five hundred such paintings on the site. But at the time of discovery, most of them were destroyed and only twenty-one of them were re-discovered. The dark ladies were referred to as cloud maidens and the light-skinned ones as the lightning princess. These figures look very sensuous and have aroused inflicting emotions in visitors down the years.

SUBJECTS OF THE SIGIRIYA FRESCOES PAINTINGS

These damsels have high foreheads shaping their faces with enticing doe eyes, a rose-coloured blush on their cheeks, and lips as lotus buds look down from the gallery where they reside. These lovely maidens wear blouses of the gossamer veil, the texture of which is silken cobwebs woven in the wind, seven layers of this diaphanous material are like evening dew on the grass and similar to running water.

THE MAIDENS OF SIGIRIYA FRESCOES

Lovely maidens have dressed their hair piled up high to show their oval face of lustrous complexions. They have heavy breasts and their eyes express moods from vivacity to serenity.

They wear elaborate jewels on their hair, ears, and arms. Large hooped earrings dangle from their ears and they wear armlets as well as bangles. Numerous necklaces, some having large pendants too are worn.

They are standing in a row carrying flowers, trays of flowers bestowing the most enigmatic of smiles.

WHAT DO SIGIRIYA FRESCO PAINTINGS DEPICT?

The female figures were shown as if moving in the same direction (north) and some of the ladies were accompanied by females of a darker complexion and probably of a different race. The flowers carried by the females were suggested as indicating that they were setting forth to worship at the temple of Pidrangala built on the hills situated a mile to the north of Sigiriya.

Archaeologists opine that the fair-skinned ladies represented queens or princesses who were accompanied by their ladies-in-waiting or maid-servants depicted by the dark-skinned figures.

ACCORDING TO MR.BELL, THE PAINTINGS REPRESENT GODDESSES

Bell, a British archaeologist who examined the figures during the latter part of the 18s, opines that the reason for the half-figure portraits cut off by cloud formations was to economize space due to the concavity of the surface of the rock support. Alternatively, the bell suggests that the clouds from which the upper portions of the figures appear to emerge may indicate that these figures are goddesses.

ACCORDING TO COOMARASWAMY, THE PAINTINGS REPRESENT GODDESSES

While Bell did not press the alternative proposal that the paintings depict divine beings, A.K Coomaraswamy, a pioneer historian who lived early 19s, was a protagonist of this view and proposed to identify the subject of the paintings with such apsaras.

ACCORDING TO PARANVITANA, THE PAINTINGS REPRESENT THE CLOUDS AND LIGHTNING

Paranvitana, a past commissioner of archaeology in Sri Lanka, on the other hand, propounded a theory to account for the figures painted over the plastered rock surface at Sigiriya. He showed that it is quite possible that the ladies of these paintings are personifications of clouds and phenomena associated with clouds-lightning. 

The dark-complexioned ones were thus cloud damsels (mega latha), and fair-skinned ladies were a lightning princesses (Viju Kumari), which is in accordance with the symbolic representation,  as Paranavithana was it, of Sigiriya as Alaka in the Himalayas and Kassapa as a Devaraja or Lord of Alaka, that is Kuvera or his representative on earth. this is an ingenious theory that connects the cloud-borne figures with many other structural and topographical features at Sigiriya.

ARE MAIDENS HEADING TO PIDURANGALA TEMPLE?

Maidens stand looking on one side as if they are going to a nearby temple Pidurangala. These maidens have been in their eyrie heights of half up the 180-meter rock face. At the time a rock face of about 150 meters in length full of paintings, would have formed one of the largest picture galleries in the world.

This 10-day private Colombo package includes 6 UNESCO World Heritage sites: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Golden Temple of Dambulla, Galle Fort, and Temple of the tooth relic with Sri Lanka mountain resorts, southern national parks, and western and southern beach resorts.

TECHNIQUES OF SIGIRIYA FRESCOES PAINTINGS

Sigiriya’s frescoes paintings are dating back to the 5th century AD. Centuries past, these frescoes are still the same as they had been many centuries ago. A large amount of painting has disappeared on the wrath of nature, through the rain, wind, and strong sun rays. But the remains of the Sigiriya frescoes paintings are still in very good condition, largely due to the advanced techniques of the ancient artisans.

The ground of the Sigiriya frescoes paintings is in general laid in three layers, clay reinforced by paddy husks and other organic fibres, clay mixed with lime and sand, and a plaster richer in lime than the previous layer. A final overall coating of lime was applied and towelled smooth to receive the colours which are the three traditional earth colours of the ancient painter’s palette- red ocher, yellow ochre, and green earth.

The technique of painting has been shown to be an oil emulsion tempera with gum. This is the earliest example, adequately dated, of a painting that is known to contain a drying oil in the binding medium both in the laying of the ground as well as in the paint layer.

The extreme perilous conditions under which the western face of the enormous rock was painted, the high quality of the technique adopted in such an early period, the clear and beautiful line work, and the mellowness of the shading, all contribute to placing the Sigiriya paintings the foremost wall paintings of any period in any part of the world.

STYLE OF SIGIRIYA FRESCOES PAINTINGS

The marked similarity ib style of paintings, pose and ornament between the Sigiriya and paintings of Ajanta caves belonging to the same period was referred to by H.C.P Bell who was of the opinion that artists trained in the same school were responsible for both the Indian and Sri Lanka paintings.

Bell had drawn attention to the Mongolian cast of features in the faces of the painted figures. Regardless of the subject of the paintings, be they personified clouds and lightning, goddess or apsaras, or mortal ladies of King Kashyapa’s court, it is clear that in the eye of the beholder many of the paintings now extant can, with reason, be called portraits.

It is evident that in the commission of this task the painter had drawn likenesses of people he had seen E.g the matrons whose stern face is all that remains of the fresco pocket in the northern part of fresco pocket, and the dowager depicted as the penultimate figure in the southern and larger pocket, both of which bear the stamp of maturity and individuality.

WALL PAINTINGS IN THE TERRACE GARDEN

There is a large number of granite caves scattered in the Sigiriya terrace garden and almost all of them were decorated with paintings. E.g a remnant of paintings from the 5th century AD still can be seen at Deraniyagala’s cave.

On the first terrace as you march from the main entrance (western gate), there are remains of a dagoba (stupa or pagoda)on a rock outcrop with a flight of limestone steps leading up to it from the west. On the terrace above, to the north of the modern pathway leading upward from the pleasure garden, is the interesting cave Deraniyagala’s cave on the account of his discovery of paintings of the three-quarter-length female figure on the plastered surface within.

HOW TO GET AN ENTRANCE TICKET TO THE SIGIRIYA FRESCO POCKET?

The visitors need to purchase the entrance ticket before entering the Sigiriya fortress complex. when you buy the entrance ticket to the Sigiriya rock, the same ticket can be used to get access to fresco paintings. The cost of the entrance ticket is $35 for foreign travellers.

These steps were created during the king’s time (5th century AD), the engineers used bricks in order to build these steps and balustrade

HOW TO REACH SIGIRIYA FRESCO PAINTINGS?

You have read a lot of information about Sigiriya paintings. Now it is time to see the paintings. Visiting Sigiriya frescoes is a part of the Sigiriya rock fortress tour. Reaching out to Sigiriya frescoes is footwork. The visitors have to climb up to 300 meters above the surrounding using the 1200 steps. Apart from Climbing the visitors also need to walk about 2 kilometres in the Sigiriya garden.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SIGIRIYA FRESCOES

The frescoes are found about halfway down the track of the Sigiriya rock climb. Sigiriya rock is located in the north-central province of Sri Lanka, where the temperature fluctuates between 30 to 36 degrees Celsius. Sigiriya is warm and humidity is also very high, which means it is sweating a lot even on a small movement.

The Sigiriya climb during midday can be a very tedious task due to the heat and sweating. Usually, it is best to climb the Sigiriya rock in the morning around 07.00 AM or in the afternoon (after 03.00), when the heat generated through the sunlight is at a moderate level.

THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO SIGIRIYA ROCK

The main approach to the summit of Sigiriya was by the Gallery built of brick and paved with limestone flags. This ambulatory, punctuated by short flights of steps was made to run along the western face of the great rock and continued on the north as a rather steep stairway.

The western part of the gallery was set along a collar-like declivity so that it was protected from the rain by the overhanging rock (on which was also cut a drip-ledge) along the greater part of its length. Grooves (for woodwork) cut in the rock where flights of steps occur suggests that these areas, at least, were covered by roofing in ancient times.

A breach at the northwest corner of the rock where the gallery followed its curvature was restored in the early days of the archaeological Departments with an iron bridge constructed to meet the flight of steps hugging the north face. Similar to the northern breach, the southern end of the gallery has suffered a complete loss of its portion from the guardhouse on the plateau where the Northern and Southern stairways converged in ancient times.

All the remains of this part two parallel ledges cut along the rock one below the other. The method of construction of the gallery and the wall on and around these ledges is a marvellous piece of engineering skill. Course upon a course of brickwork was laid on the sloping irregular surface of the rock and upon the keys provided by the ledges until a flat surface was built up to serve as the gallery and later paved. The outermost course of brick laid on the lower ledge was continued upwards with a batter to from the gallery wall which was then plastered.

Sigiriya fresco pocket is a part of the Sigiriya ancient city and can be found on the rock face towards the eastern side of the Sigiriya rock. A spiral staircase is set up by the archaeological department to reach the fresco pocket. Same time an iron platform with a railing has been set up, allowing the guest to have a closer look at the fresco paintings. You need to hike at least half of the rock in order to witness the fresco paintings, and the fresco pocket is halfway down the track on the way to the top of the rock.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE VISITORS TO SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS

Please refrain from taking photos of the fresco paintings as it is prohibited now. It had been allowed to take photos in the past without flash, however, now it is not allowed to take photos at all. Please respect the rule, after all, it helps you to avoid unnecessary troubles.

Please don’t touch the paintings – the visitors are not allowed to touch the paintings. The visitors can see a “DO NOT TOUCH”, signboard in front of the frescoes. Touching these fragile paintings can cause severe damage to them. The police constables and the guards assigned by the cultural triangle at the fresco pocket are on high alert. The travellers, who violate the rule are subjected to legal punishment.

READY TO EXPLORE SIGIRIYA PAINTINGS WITH SEERENDIPITY

Serendipity Tour is an entirely locally owned travel company with a head office in Colombo. The highly experienced local staff is a key strength of Serendipity Tours, and they can plan your dream holiday to Sri Lanka.

The best price guaranteed for your Sri Lanka trip

When you book a tour with Serendipity Tours, you directly book the tour with the local company, which means there are no middlemen and therefore you can guarantee the best price. Simply get in touch with us and let us know when you travel and what you like to see.

Plan your best Sri Lanka trip with-expert

Our staff makes a personalised program for you, which you can change until you find the best Sri Lanka trip package for you. Visit www.sirilaktours.com to browse our existing tour packages, which you can customise to meet all your expectations. Write to us at admin@seerendipitytours.com, tel. 0094-77-440977, WhatsApp 0094-77-4440977.

Please support us

We have put a lot of time and effort into compiling this blog post. Please be kind enough to leave your very own comments.

 

Exit mobile version