Rising 200 metres above the surrounding jungle plains, Sigiriya – the “Lion Rock” – is arguably Sri Lanka’s single most spectacular sight. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982, this fifth-century rock fortress was briefly Sri Lanka’s royal capital, and its dramatic setting makes it unforgettable.
The climb passes through elaborately designed water gardens, boulder gardens and terraced gardens – among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world – before reaching the famous mirror wall, once polished so finely a king could see his own reflection, now etched with centuries of visitor graffiti. Higher still, delicate frescoes of celestial maidens survive on the rock face, and the summit reveals the foundations of the royal palace along with sweeping panoramic views.
- The ancient water, boulder and terraced gardens
- The polished Mirror Wall and its historic inscriptions
- Centuries-old frescoes of the Sigiriya maidens
- Panoramic views from the summit palace ruins