Sigiriya

Sigiriya (සීගිරිය), the Lion Rock, rises about 180 metres above the plains of Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle. On its summit, King Kashyapa built a royal palace in the fifth century, and the rock with its gardens, frescoes and fortifications is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the island's most famous landmarks.

The approach leads through symmetrical water gardens with pools and fountains, still fed by ancient channels, and boulder and terraced gardens at the foot of the rock. Stairways climb past the Mirror Wall, once polished and later covered with poems left by early visitors, and a sheltered gallery of painted women, the famous frescoes often called the cloud maidens. Halfway up, two giant stone lion's paws frame the final ascent to the summit, where palace foundations, cisterns and wide views over forest and lakes await. Show more

Opposite, the rock of Pidurangala, home to an old monastery and a reclining Buddha, offers a short but steep climb and the classic view of Sigiriya at sunrise or sunset. A museum near the entrance explains the site's history. The area is a natural base for the Dambulla cave temple, the elephant parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla and village tours in the countryside.

Sigiriya is reached by road from Dambulla or Habarana. Climbing the rock takes a few hours and is best started early in the morning before the heat and crowds. The site can be visited all year, though some steep stairways are exposed.