The Lion Rock · UNESCO World Heritage
Sigiriya
A 5th-century palace on top of a 200-metre rock, ringed by water gardens.
King Kasyapa built his sky-palace on Sigiriya in the 5th century AD, and the ruins, frescoes and lion-paw gateway are still up there. We climb at opening time, before the heat and the crowds, and watch the jungle steam off below you.
What we do here
- Dawn climb with a licensed site guide
- Sunset from Pidurangala
- Village cycle and lake canoe in Hiriwadunna
- Elephant gathering at Minneriya or Kaudulla (July to October)
Worth knowing
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982
- About 1,200 steps to the summit; most people take 1.5 to 2 hours up and down
- The Mirror Wall still carries graffiti poems from the 8th century
- Pidurangala Rock next door gives the classic photo of Sigiriya itself
