Sigiriya

Sigiriya is situated in Sri Lanka’s Central Province’s Matale District. Five of Sri Lanka’s seven world heritage sites are located inside the cultural triangle.

It is 169 kilometres from Colombo and is en route to Polonnaruwa or Anuradhapura. For about two decades, Sigiriya Rock served as a royal stronghold. The size of this fantastic, fascinating location is almost one hectare. King Kashyapa (477–495) erected the Rock Fortress after murdering his father to amass money. This magnificent lion-shaped castle, the paws of which are still visible, is a masterwork of ancient construction.

Sigiriya’s sophisticated water system and rock wall frescoes have earned it international renown. As a World Heritage site, it is recognised.

A stone staircase that leads into the lion’s mouth and through its throat is the only way for guests to enter the palace. The lion’s enormous paws are all that are left of the carving, but they show how enormous the rest must have been. Visitors may now walk about the palace’s remains and take in the expansive views thanks to a new stairway that has been added to the rock’s side to reach the summit. A complex pumping system had been employed to fill two water tanks—used for drinking and bathing—from a lake at the base of the rock, but the tanks still fill with rainwater.