Designated as a World Heritage Site, Sigiriya is one of the most elaborate and well preserved urban sites in South Asia.

Standing 200 meters above the surrounding plain and surrounded by stunning natural vistas, king Kashyapa could not have chosen a better location for his godly palace. Descried by many as “the eighth wonder of the world”, Sigiriya captivates the senses and stuns and imagination with its sheer scope, ambition and audacity. The rock was chosen to be the fortress of the renegade king Kashyapa in 477 A.D, who had usurped the throne by putting his father to death and temporarily deposing of his older brother and rightful heir Mogallana. Kasyapa then went on to trans form Sigiriya (which is derived from the word Simha-giri, Lion Mountain) i nto an elaborate palace complex, complete with pleasure gardens, fountains, and extensive moats and ramparts. The climb to the top is an arduous one, but well worth the effort- the adventurous visitor gains a breathtaking view of the entire plain, as well as a privilege denied to many lesser mortals 1500 years ago- access to the private quarters of King Kashyapa on the summit of the fortress.

Here are some of the highlights of this remarkable site:

a) The royal pleasure gardens:

found to the west of the citadel, these symmetrically planned gardens were equipped with sophisticated hydraulic systems and water-retaining structures. The ancient hydraulic system, which supplied water to the fountains in the garden, was recently restored by local engineers. Now the fountains are functioning as smoothly as they did 1500 years ago.

b) The Frescoes:

These famous 5th century paintings are located in a depression on the rock face about 100 meters above ground level. It is believed that they depict the ''apsaras'' or goddesses, whereas others have argued that they symbolize clouds and lightning, thus conforming to Kashyapa’s vision of Sigiriya as the celestial abode of a divine king.

c) Mirror Wall:

Located just below the paintings, the surface of this wall is well polished and covered with the writing known as ''Sigiri graffiti’. These writings consist of poems written by visitors to the site since the 7th century.

d) The Lion staircase :

At the entrance to the summit one encounters the Lion staircase, one of the most visually stunning features of Sigiriya. Here, the architects have carved two massive Lion Paws into the rock face, perhaps intending to convey Kashyapa’s dominance over the Sinhalese (the race of lions). The brick wall is still preserved in its original form.