Sigiriya is an ancient city in Sri Lanka. This Place located in central province , Matale district  near to Dambulla town. This is  one of historical and archaeological site in Sri Lanka. There is a massive rock in ancient city sigiriya. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 CE) for his new capital. He built his palace on the 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 was abandoned after the king's death. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.Today Sigiriya is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best preserved examples of ancient urban planning.It is the most visited historic site in Sri Lanka.


Sigiriya consists of an ancient citadel built by King Kashyapa during the 5th century. The Sigiriya site contains the ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palaces located behind the lavish lower gardens, and moats and ramparts which protected the citadel. The site was both a palace and a fortress. The upper palace on the top of the rock includes cisterns cut into the rock. The moats and walls that surround the lower palace are exquisitely beautiful.

sigiriya lion head

sigiriya lion head

sigiriya paintings

sigiriya mirror wall