The rock fortress of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka’s most important ancient site, and a sure contender for our selection of the world’s wonders.

The rock fortress of Sigiriya stands on an outcrop of volcanic rock, and the only way to access its heights is to enter through the “lion’s mouth”, the passageway that climbs up between a pair of huge stone paws carved in the sheer rock face.

According to local myth, Kassapa constructed the fort in the 5th century as his new royal residence after murdering his father, the king. However, recent archaeological excavations suggest that the “fort” was actually a Buddhist monastery; at any rate, by the 10th century, a community of Buddhist monks occupied the palace. There is still debate as to whether the voluptuous women of the frescoes on the walls of the fort are supposed to be the concubines of king Kassapa’s court or the Buddhist goddess Tara.

In the 14th century the palace was abandoned, only to be discovered anew by a British archaeologist in 1898. Since then, Sigiriya has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famed for its ancient frescoes.

It costs around £15 to enter the site, although the purchase of a “Cultural Triangle” ticket (£29) allows access to Sigiriya and other ancient sites in the area. The optimum time to visit central Sri Lanka is between April and September. Sigiriya is easily accessible from the city of Kandy, which is linked by road and rail to the capital Columbo.

more information: http://www.srilankatourism.org/index.html