Sigiriya
A royal citadel built around a towering rock, with water gardens, frescoes, monumental stairways, defensive works, and a summit palace.
Photo: Wrobell · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Region
- Central Province
- Civilisation
- Ancient Sri Lankan
- Period
- 5th century CE
- UNESCO
- World Heritage ↗
Through time
The story
Sigiriya or Sinhagiri is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka. It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that is dominated by a massive column of granite approximately 180 m (590 ft) high.
According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Cūḷavaṃsa, this area was a large forest, then after storms and landslides it became a hill and was selected by King Kashyapa (CE 477–495) for his new capital. He built his palace on top of this rock and decorated its sides with colourful frescoes. On a small plateau about halfway up the side of this rock he built a gateway in the form of an enormous lion. The name of this place is derived from this structure; Sinhagiri, the Lion Rock.
The capital and the royal palace were abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century. Sigiriya today is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
Adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What you will see
- Lion's Paw Terrace
- Mirror Wall
- Summit palace
Before you go
- Check opening hours and ticket rules shortly before your visit — they change seasonally.
- Plan for the heat. Most ancient sites have little shade; go early or late.
- Respect the barriers. Fragile surfaces are protected for the next visitors.
Discoveries from Sigiriya
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