Information
City: SigiriyaCountry: Sri Lanka
Continent: Asia
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka, Asia
Overview
Sigiriya, the towering Lion Rock Fortress, rises from Sri Lanka’s Central Province and is often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” a breathtaking ancient stronghold carved with intricate frescoes and stone pathways.Sigiriya, with its towering rock face, vivid ancient frescoes, and lush gardens, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws anyone who loves history, art, or the beauty of the natural world.About 175 kilometers northeast of Colombo, and just 15 kilometers from Dambulla, Sigiriya sits in a tropical climate split between a dry season from May to September-the best time to visit-and a wetter spell from October to January, with warm days averaging 27–32°C (81–90°F).Rising 200 meters above forests, Water Gardens, and quiet villages, the great Sigiriya Rock has watched over the land since prehistoric times, when it sheltered monks as early as the 3rd century BCE.In the 5th century CE, King Kashyapa seized the throne and turned the site into his royal capital.Kashyapa built a grand palace high on the rock, its walls alive with vivid frescoes and its grounds blooming with lush gardens.Sigiriya’s strong fortifications held for a time, but when Kashyapa fell in battle, the site was left to the wind and sun.After his death, it became a quiet Buddhist monastery, a role it kept until the 14th century.British explorers stumbled across it again in the 19th century, drawn by its striking stone arches and weathered walls.Rising 200 meters above the plains, Sigiriya Rock is a massive stone fortress crowned with the ruins of King Kashyapa’s palace, its carved throne still catching the morning light; visitors pass between the giant stone paws of the Lion’s Gate before climbing toward the summit, pausing to marvel at vivid frescoes of celestial maidens on the western face, ancient poetry etched into the polished Mirror Wall, and the ingenious water gardens below, where fountains still dance after the rain-a masterpiece of engineering, art, and history that continues to draw travelers from around the world.
Landmarks in sigiriya
