Sigiriya
A massive 660 feet tall rock in the middle of Sri Lanka’s dense forest, with decoration of frescoes and graffiti, Sigiriya is a huge part of the Island’s history.
Experts believe the region has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC and history records that sometime around 477-495 CE, Sigiriya was the capital of Sri Lanka. The king at the time king Kashyapa made this massive rock his stronghold because it was at the center of the Island and it provided a 360 degrees view of the surrounding landscape which was of a strategic advantage in case of an attack.
King Kashyapa named the rock Sīhāgiri meaning “Lion Rock,” and he carved a giant lion on a rock at the entrance to welcome visitors and frighten his enemies. This defense fortress soon saw the rapid growth of a city around it. Sigiriya served as a palace and a fortress; with five gates, frescoes, and the famous mirror wall covered with verses written by visitors for centuries.The complex spreads over 3km, and has a lot to see. From the majestic rock carvings to the organized system of cisterns, the fortress and surrounding gardens.
