SRI LANKA ~Sigiriya-Terracota figurine - UNESCO~

Great artwork found at the Sigiriya or Lion Mountain...Thanks Ravindra!!

With nice and matching stamp: Issued on July 16, 2012, with the occasion of National Archaeology Week, and depicted a terracotta figure even from Sigiriya.

An Apsara is a female spirit of the clouds and waters in Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

They are miniature terracotta figurines at Sigiriya and works of art which are reproductions of the paintings on the Sigirya rock wall. Some of them are found at the Sigiriya Museum today.r

Most of the figurines aer female torsos, modelled in the familiar 'classic - realist' style of the Middle Historical period (circa 6th to 13th C).

Terracotta figures of this specific type have only been found at Sigiriya.

SRI LANKA ~Sigiriya Rock~

...It's almost unbelievable that this enormeus rock standing in the middle of the jungle has so many hidden secrets.. Thanks so much dear Ravindra for this last "Sigirya" rock postcard to complete my whole collection... and to make me discover this amazing natural wonder through postcards!!

I repeat myself.^__^
Again with wonderful stamps especially the colorful flower one!!

Sigiriya is an archelological site and it contains the ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the regin of King Kasyapa (477AD - 495 AD).

Sigiriya Lion Rock rises 360 meters above sea level. While it is not a Bud­dhist pil­grim­age site, it is very impor­tant his­tor­i­cally and archae­o­log­i­cally. It was also home dur­ing sep­a­rate peri­ods of hun­dreds of years to Bud­dhist monas­tic orders.

SRI LANKA ~Sigiriya-UNESCO~

...Another beatiful part of the Sigiriya rock...must be really imposing to go through this lion paws and climb those steps...I'm already out of breath by seeing them ^__^
...It is said that in the ancient time one had to walk through the wide open mouth of a lion to get inside the complex...that must has been an even more impressive sight and entrance!! Thanks a lot Ravindra!!

With as usual a set of great stamps.

Two very big lion claws (unearthed in 1898) give way to the final and the most important stage of the palace complex and therefore this site is also known as Lions Rock.

SRI LANKA ~Sigiriya Gardens-UNESCO ~

Another stunning view of "Sigiriya" or "Lion's Rock"... A great aerial view of the gardens from the top of the rock where the palace is situated...
Thanks a lot Ravindra for this first card in 2013 of "The Pearl of the Indian Ocean", Sri Lanka!!:-)

With nice stamp and cancellation: 100 years of aviation centenary (Issued 07-12-2012)

Sigiriya gardens are one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world and are really good preserved.
Sigiriya has three main gardens: a water garden, the terraced garden, and a boulder garden.

In 1982, UNESCO declared the location to be one of its World Heritage sites.

SRI LANKA ~Ruins of King Kashyapa's palace-UNESCO ~

...More of Sri Lanka's wonderful history...It doesn't show that good on the postcard but it is on an impressive giant rock (saw it on internet)...Looks like to be be a real climb on the stone stairway to the top of the mountain... And the view must be amazing!!! Many thanks Ravindra!:D

Lovely Christmas stamp (Issued 12-12-2012) and my second one with the special postmark:
12-12-12 Great!!

Sigiriya is an archelological site and it contains the ruins of an ancient palace complex, built during the regin of King Kasyapa (477AD - 495 AD).

Sigiriya Lion Rock rises 360 meters above sea level. While it is not a Bud­dhist pil­grim­age site, it is very impor­tant his­tor­i­cally and archae­o­log­i­cally. It was also home dur­ing sep­a­rate peri­ods of hun­dreds of years to Bud­dhist monas­tic orders.

SRI LANKA ~Sigiriya Frescoes-UNESCO~

Thanks to Ravindra I have a new great addition to my UNESCO collection... And one of the most famous from Sri Lanka! The King was known to have 500 concubines, of which he had frescoes painted. These frescoes have survived thousands of years and are still in amazing condition, mainly due to the natural pigments used by the artists..
Can't believe that they are so well preserved after so many years... Just beautiful!!
Some countries have so many different and great stamps!!

Sigiriya (Lion's rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka.

Hidden in a cave along the citadel at Sigiriya are some of the most magnificent ancient frescoes in South Asia.