One of the most striking features of Sigiriya is its well planned and exceptionally engineered hydraulic inflow and outflow conveyance system which is fully compatible or even surpasses the present day understanding in handling the domestic, pleasure, display and aesthetic water supply needs, and drainage and outflow of storm water from an urban settlement. This aspect has been revealed after the recent restoration works carried out by the Central Cultural Fund (CCF).
The Royal Palace was at the top of the Summit. The popular belief that the water needed on the summit was pumped (to 600 ft. (200 m)) from the Sigiriya Reservoir at the base is unfounded. Instead the water requirement of the summit was fulfilled by prudent water saving and conservation techniques adopted on the summit by constructing a central reservoir partially dug in rock in the southern corner and build by bricks and several other small cisterns dug in the rock. The summit plateau has a general falling slope in north to south direction. Uncontaminated water was used for domestic consumption. Hence although it was possible, no attempt was made to divert the storm water to the reservoirs. Instead at all terraced levels the storm water was diverted to a main collector channel cut in southern edge of the rock running N-S direction and was sent vertically down from a point at SW corner along a grove cut in the rock wall to a collecting cistern at the ground level the central reservoir covers an area of 85’x70’ and has a depth of 8 ft, Thus when this was filled yearly with mean annual precipitation of the area of 100 ins., it could hold 297,000 gals of water. Assuming that 75% of this is available as usable water and at a per capita consumption of 300 gals/month. Ellepola estimates that it will suffice for 60 people. Again allowing 50% for evaporation and other losses he concludes that it would have sufficed for 30 persons, which is in agreement with the accommodation provided at the summit.
The terraced gardens slope down to the boulder gardens and then to the geometrically laid out water gardens, with running water and fountains, pools and ponds, aquatic flowers and birds, and tropical trees. The entire water garden is in a walled enclosure.
The miniature water garden was discovered not long ago. It has winding waterways, shallow reflecting pools, cobbled watercourses, marbled floors and an intricate layer of tiled roof buildings.
Adjacent to this is a central island surrounded by four L-shaped water pools. These pools appear to have been used as bathing pools. These had polished walls, flights of steps and surrounding terraces - similar to a modern-day swimming pool.
There are fountains fed by water under gravitational pressure from the artificial Sigiriya Lake. Symmetrically perforated limestone plates fashion their spouts. These fountains operate in rainy weather even today.
An octagonal pool is set at the transition point from the water gardens to the boulder gardens. It is surrounded by a wide terrace, which follows its shape. A gigantic boulder almost the height of a six-storey building shelters the pool.
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