The Maidens of the Clouds
Since our recent Facebook photo proved popular, we thought we’d post a few more of these wonderful images – the Maidens of the Clouds from Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. So-called because these wonderful frescoes are found halfway up a sheer cliff at the ancient site and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sigiriya rock fortress in Sri Lanka’s ‘Cultural Triangle’. The rock shelters and grottoes (more overhangs really) are thought to have been sacred sites for Buddhist worshippers since the 3rd century BCE, whilst in the 5th century CE, a king Kassapa constructed his capital here, including a fortified palace on the rock’s summit.
Sigiriya, overview The frescoes are found around halfway up the rock face with Kassapa’s palace on the summit and further temples, palace buildings and the Royal Gardens spread around the base of the outcrop.
Sigiriya frescoes There are apparently (UNESCO counted them, not us), 21 of these Maidens of the Clouds painted on the rock face, although no one is either sure of their definite age or indeed who they are supposed to represent.
The king’s concubines? They certainly look intended to represent real people: each face is different, they’re not Angkor-style apsaras or even recognisable characters from Buddhist mythology and, laden with jewellery and well-tended by their servants, are also clearly important personages.
Palace concubines may be a good bet? (Interesting to note what appear to be the extended earlobes.)
Flowers feature heavily in the frescoes The rock itself towers some 200 m over the surrounding flat plateau and whilst it can be a bit of a struggle up the steps to the top, the views are tremendous. The best time of day, needless to say, is early morning, ideally dawn, when temperatures are low and the crowds haven’t arrived at this popular site yet.
View from the summit A visit to Sigiriya is included in our Sri Lanka tours, Isle of Serendipity and World Heritage Tour, as well as our Sri Lanka family tours.
