It was built between 477 - 495 AD, during the reign of King Kassapa. It's most significant feature is the lion staircase, towering against the granite cliff. The Sigiriya rock is actually a long-eroded volcano, which hardened in time. It rises 370 meters (1,214 feet) above sea level, which makes it visible for miles.
The site plan is very elaborate and it is considered an important urban planning site of the first millennium. The Gardens are the most important aspect of Sigiriya and it is among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. They contain water retaining structures and hydraulic systems that still work today.
Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings. It is believed that the frescoes on the western face of the rock covered an area of 140 meters long and 40 meters high.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
It was built between 477 - 495 AD, during the reign of King Kassapa. It's most significant feature is the lion staircase, towering against the granite cliff. The Sigiriya rock is actually a long-eroded volcano, which hardened in time. It rises 370 meters (1,214 feet) above sea level, which makes it visible for miles.
The site plan is very elaborate and it is considered an important urban planning site of the first millennium. The Gardens are the most important aspect of Sigiriya and it is among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. They contain water retaining structures and hydraulic systems that still work today.
Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings. It is believed that the frescoes on the western face of the rock covered an area of 140 meters long and 40 meters high.
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
name_516, name_2941, name_7043, name_3051, name_7447, name_7448, name_7449
Some photos courtesy of:
. The photos provided by Flickr are under the copyright of their owners.
This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
View full credits
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits