Mountain Palace of the Lion Rock 'Sigiriya'

Travelers are the luckiest people on earth - for they dare leave the comforts of their homes and move about in unknown lands, with people speaking unkonwn langauages. But the avid and determined travelers find their way out and reach out to places either never visited or least visited, besides favourite travelling sites.

The Mountain Palace of the Sigiriya Sigiriya [Lion Rock]

Of the least traveled sites, though well traveled by the locals for their religeous belifes, is the Mountain Palace of Sigiriya Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. 'Sigiriya Sigiriya' in local language means the 'Lion Rock.' Well if you see the majestic rock mountain, one can get the feeling of awe as when sees a jungle lion.

The Sigiriya rock is a hardened magma plug from an extinct and long-eroded volcano. It stands high above the surrounding plain, visible for miles in all directions. The rock rises approximately 370 m (1,214 ft) above sea level with sheer falls on all sides, in many places overhanging the base.

The Palace of Lion Rock is the remains of an ancient mountain fortress situated in central Matale district in Sri Lanka. What remains of the once mighty fortress is still a favourite toruist attraction for those interested in mystique places. Sigiriya is also known for its ancient images-paintings.

The Lion's Paws constructed at the entrance of the Palace

The fortress was built during the reign of King Kasap I (477 - 495 AD). But after his death, the palace was turned into a monastery that continued till the 14th century, when it was abandoned and left to the winds of nature. The original entrance to the palace had lion’s head, that is, to get into the palace, it was necessary to go through the open mouth! Unfortunately, time has not spared as a unique gateway. Now only the lion paws as seen above remain.

There are many paintings, murals and other craft work inside the palace. Although much of the art work has been lost to the time and pilferage, some paintings and murals still survive as shown above.

The Mountain Palace of the Lion Rock is now one of the seven world heritage sites in Sri Lanka. The desolate fortress is now surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, pools and other structures, which speak volumes of the aesthetics and innovative architectural knowledge of the people centuries ago.

Now watch a video of the Mountain Palace of the Lion Rock that I found on YouTube [shared by Kasshapa]

Photographs Source: Funzug
Paintings Source Courtesy: Viola (Read more about history of the Mountain Palace)

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Reaching out to the Hanging Monasteries

When you're trying to connect with your god, it helps to find some peace and quiet, if you can. But that was, indeed, no such problem for the architects of these impossibly built monasteries.

Constructed at dizzying heights on the sides of mountains, they ensured only the most devoted - and vertigo-free - followers would join them for prayer.

The Taktshang Tiger's Nest monastery clings to a cliff 2,300ft above the Paro Valley floor in Bhutan at such a height it looks down on the clouds. According to legend, the Tiger's Nest takes its name from the 'second Buddha', Precious Guru Padmasambhava, who travelled to the site on a tiger.

By far the most precarious is a monastery that dangles seemingly in defiance of the laws of physics on the side of Mt Huashan in China. Located around 75 miles east from Xi'an City of Shaanxi Province, Mt Huashan is known as 'The number one precipitous mountain under Heaven'. It is one of the five sacred mountains in China. It is home to several influential Taoist temples where emperors of past dynasties made pilgrimages, making Mt Huashan the holy land of Taoism.

Read Mail Online for details / more awe inspiring photos

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Most unusual restaurants around the world

Something that tourists and travelers always look for while traveling in foreign lands is a unique place to eat unique delicacies of the place and the region. Accordingly the businessmen and restaurant/hotel owners design their business outlets in such a manner to attract maximum tourists. 

The designers and architects put their heads together to design the eateries in such a manner that these not only only become landmarks but also great tourist attractions. The siting overlooking mountains, along beaches or openings towards falling water falls add to the serenity and awe that attracts the tourists or those who just do not want to eat but to relax, enjoy and leave with lifetime memories. 

I came across such like restaurants and eateries at Funzug that one would really cherish to spend a few hours - a few hours that would become a lifelong remembrance of the place. Just scroll down and see with the use of aesthetic sense and innovation, how a place has been converted into a romantic, memorable and awe inspiring rest place and eatery.

I wish references were available for each of these places - if you have been at any one of the places given below, do leave a comment for the information of others as to where is this place, how you got there and what were the specialties that you enjoyed.

This one is really fascinating and awesome - don't you think so?

[ via Funzug ]

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Noah's Ark in Hong Kong

While the remains of actual Noah's Ark rest in obscurity probably on Mt. Ararat, Turky, the travellers and tourists and residents of Hong Kong get to see the huge wooden boat resting on their sea shore.

Noah's Ark in Hong Kong [Photo: Barcroft Media / Mail Online]

Measuring 450 feet long and 75 feet wide, the Thomas, Walter and Raymond's land-bound Ark equals the same dimensions on the  Biblical scale. To make the boat look like the original, 67 pairs of animals at the entrance have been placed, just like the pairs of creatures saved from the Great Flood by Noah in the Bible tale.

The boat in Hong Kong, a creationist-inspired vessel forms part of a theme park near Hong Kong which was inspired by a young girl's scrawled drawing of the mammoth boat.

Architects appear to have used some artistic licence in parts of the Ark - for instance including double-glazed windows, a fine dining restaurant and luxurious bedrooms. Inside, real-life exotic animals can be found - including a nautilus, a toucan and reams of fish.

The Ark opened in May 2009, 17 years after plans were first mooted for the enormous structure. The Ark also boasts less authentic Biblical touches such as double-glazed windows and a fine dining restaurant

So if you are planning a visit to the South East Asia, do inlcude a stop over in Hong Kong and stay a night out at this unique place, which is an architect's innovation and a billionaire brothers brainchild.

Read more/see more photos: Mail Online

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The Spectacular Baltit Fort of Hunza

By Syed Asghar Javed Shirazi

Historic Baltit Fort is at a short walk from Karimabad, Hunza. Around 700 years old castle has been rebuilt a number of times during the centuries it has seen. The present structure was constructed some 600 years ago and the architecture reflects a marked Tibetan influence. The story goes that a Princess from Baltistan married the local Thum and she brought in Balti masons, carpenters and craftsmen to build it and it. According to local legends, 300 labourers for the construction of the Fort were also part of the royal dowry of the Princess from Baltistan. In former times this impressive fort ensured the survival of Hunza regimes. But even before the Fort is reached, the old cobbled streets of Baltit village spanned by easily defensible archways seem to provide enough of a deterrent to all but the boldest of intruders. Within the fort itself, narrow stairs with a small opening into the living quarters on the first floor are features, which must have helped ensure that the ruling Thum stayed out of harms way.

The Fort stands on a natural citadel of a hillock overlooking the Valley and makes a fine vintage point to view high peaks that surrounds the Valley. While there is a splendid observation of Hunza from the Thums’ balcony on the first floor, the best view is from the roof, which is gained after an equally guarded ascent. There were excellent views even at night: the village lights and the stars overhead all seem mixed up. There are 53 rooms in the Fort. The designers extensively used wood during construction. The intricate woodwork on windows, doors, columns and railings is testimony to the artistic expertise of those who executed the work. The Fort served as residence of Hunza rulers until they abandoned it and shifted their residence to another fort down the valley.

The Baltit Fort was honoured with prestigious “British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award” for the year 2001. This is the first of its kind award to any heritage site in Pakistan. As per the report, “the nearest to the Baltit Fort for this award were heritage sites in India, Indonesia, Britain and Australia.”

The Fort was the property of the Mirs of Hunza for over several centuries. The present owners presented this historical monument to Baltit Heritage Trust for complete restoration and renovation. Good job done. The Fort has now been converted into a museum displaying the lifestyle of the ruling Mir family and the people of the princely state, history and culture of Hunza.

The original seat of authority of Hunza Thums was Altit Fort - situated in the village of Altit, about 3 km from Karimabad. The Mirs of Hunza abandoned the Baltit Fort in 1945, and moved to this down the hill. It has been built on a sheer rock-cliff that falls 1000 feet into the Hunza River, and is much older than the Baltit Fort. Unlike Baltit, Altit Fort has not been renovated.

Travelling to the Hunza Valley in the past required walking (or driving a wretched track) through the roughest mountain glen on earth but these days one can commute on Karakorum Highway – ranked one of the highest highways in the world - to reach Karimabad – principal town in the Valley.

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