SIGIRIYA : THE LION MOUNTAIN.

Sri Lanka's ancient architectural tradition is well portrayed at Sigiriya, the best preserved city centre in Asia from the first millennium, with its combination of buildings and gardens with their trees, pathways, water gardens, the fusion of symmetrical and asymmetrical elements, use of varying levels and of axial and radial planning. Sophisticated city planning was at the heart of Sigiriya, this royal citadel of ancient fame from the days of Sri Lanka's memorable past.

The ruins of the capital lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak (the 'Lion's Rock', which dominates the jungle from all sides). A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site.

The Complex consists of the central rock, rising 200 meters above the surrounding plain, and the two rectangular precincts on the east (90 hectares) and the west (40 hectares), surrounded by two moats and three ramparts

Sigiriya dates back from over 7,000 years ago, through Pre-Historic to Proto-Historic to Early Historic times, then as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 3rd century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the sangha.
The plan of the city is based on a precise square module. The layout extends outwards from co-ordinates at the centre of the palace complex at the summit, with the eastern and western axis directly aligned to it. The water garden, moats and ramparts are based on an ‘echo plan’ duplicating the layout and design on either side. This city still displays its skeletal layout and its significant features. 3 km from east to west and 1 km from north to south it displays the grandeur and complexity of urban-planning in 5th century Sri Lanka.

“The garden city and the palace was built by king Kasyapa 477 - 495 AD. Then after king Kasyapa's death it was a Buddhist monastery complex upto about the 14th century”.

SUNRISE OVER THE ANGKOR...

Up and Ready by 4:30 am I went to witness the Iconic sunrise over the Angkor Wat Temple. It’s the sunrise over this temple that makes it so beautiful and breathtaking. This is indeed one of the best sunrises I have ever seen in my life. I hated to see so many bystanders, but once the skies lit up, I just felt "Man is such a miniature before nature". I shot these images the first day, but the next 2 days I just sat without my camera, I got so involved by the magnanimous beauty of the sun rising from the horizon. Every minute and everyday during the same time the skies play a colorful game which is just unexplainable...

GRANDEUR IN THE RUINS...ANGKOR WAT

Ruins are often romanticized by Painters, Photographers, in Films and in Literature. To me, personally, every rock and every structure tells a story, they all contain fragments of my spirit. I felt possessed by the presence of an Ancient Ghost haunting around that place. The winds that blew amidst the cracks of the walls which are on the verge of collapsing, the roots emerging out from the little gaps on the structures, the opened roof of the libraries which used to be an ocean of knowledge. People relate to it in different ways, to some it is Religious, to some it is Historical and to some it is just an Architectural Splendor. What seems to be just a sight of rocks and debris at the present was a once flourishing empire. Being concluded as the largest pre-industrial city in the world, The ANGKOR WAT connects to a 1000 sq kms from its temple core. It is the world’s largest single religious monument.
Over a period of 300 years (900-1200 A.D), the empire produced some of the worlds most magnificent Architectural masterpieces in Angkor. Jayavarman II, hailed himself as the Godking in 802 A.D and thus started the Khmer Empire. Derived from the Sanskrit word “Nagara”, Angkor was named the capital of his empire. The main temple is dedicated to lord “Vishnu”. Approximately 72 major temples and several hundred additional minor temples are scattered throughout the landscape and beyond the present Thai border. During 1170 A.D, the then king adopted Buddhism and altered the Hindu temples to display images of “Buddha”.
In 1431 A.D, Thai invaders attacked the empire, which resulted in many people fleeing away from the main city. Another major contributing factor was the religious transition from Hinduism to Theravada Buddhism which created differences between its people…ultimately the whole Angkor was abandoned by the 15th century. Lost in time and going through the onslaught of weathering effects through the centuries. Since then, the temples remained hidden until 1907, when a French Archeologist discovered it. Even though there were efforts to restore the temples by the Frenchmen, the sites were robbed and the rich artifacts and sculptures being smuggled into the Thai border. To add misery to the restoration, the Khmer Rouges contributed in the plundering and destruction of the structures which were once the symbol of religious and royal importance. Since 1980’s, after the end of the Khmer Regime the temples have found their rightful place in the world and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Roots standing the test of time, CAMBODIA.

Walking through the ruins of the ancient temples at the Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Banteay sri etc..one cannot miss these magnificient trees and their roots which conveys a sense of vastness, emptiness and the loneliness that is felt around the place.....