Sigiriya

The Fortress

Today, even though the entire fortress is in ruins, it is the only major attraction that the town of Sigiriya boasts of. However, the area in which the ruins are set is very picturesque and the climb up to the summit brings many pleasant surprises for the trekker.

Also being declared a World Heritage Site has helped put the place on the tourist map. The Moat around the fortress is the first thing that you will hit on your visit to the fortress. The remains of the ancient water body are visible in places.

Water Garden

In the water garden water is collected in four L-shaped pools. King Kasyap was very fond of water and its presence in the gardens in the form of fountains and pools is very evident. These pools are connected by underground water conduits to provide different water levels in the garden. There are also bathing pools, one of them complete with a diving area cut into a rock above. Further in beyond the octagonal pool, on a higher level, is the boulder garden. Here buildings must once have stood, but today only the winding boulder paths and huge stones lie around in asymmetric patterns. The cistern rock is the biggest attraction here.

Lion Rock

The entrance to the inner citadel is through what’s known as the Lion Rock. This was a sphinx -like structure where people would have to enter the jaws of the lion to enter the city within. Unfortunately the rock has crumbled and all that’s left are the huge paws of the lion sculpture.

The lion staircase eventually leads after more than a thousand rock-cut steps into the palace garden, but halfway up the lion rock is the Mirror Wall or Kat Bitha as it is known in the local lingo.

This highly polished surface of rock has the world’s oldest graffiti on it. Some of the descriptions from previous centuries have allowed archeologists to reconstruct the majesty of the fortress in its heydays.

Murals

The main attraction on the mountain climb would have to be the frescoes of female figures in the cave known for its murals. Showcasing maidens in vivid colors and in various poses, these topless female forms are subject to strict security. 

There were supposed to cover an entire rock face, but many have been damaged. Initially by monks who used the fortress as a monastery and then by vandals in 1967. Thanks to which today only 20 odd survive out of a reported 500 originals and must be viewed in the presence of security guards. 

The summit is where you get a breathtaking view of the surrounding area and its villages. You can also see all the way to Dambulla on a clear day, about 19 km away. The entire climb can take about an hour and half so it makes sense to start off as early as possible in the morning.