Sigiriya

Sigiriya rises abruptly from the plains of the Cultural Triangle. King Kashyapa built his palace on its summit in the fifth century, reached through the giant lion's paws that give the rock its name.

On the way up you pass the celebrated frescoes of the 'Sigiriya maidens' and the polished Mirror Wall, and the summit offers sweeping views across forest and reservoirs. Below, the symmetrical water gardens are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.

Sigiriya is an ideal base for exploring Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and the elephant parks of Minneriya and Kaudulla.