25/11/2019
Sigiriya
On a plateau halfway up the rock Kasyapa built a gateway in the form of a huge lion with a staircase emerging from the lion's mouth, hence its name meaning Lion Rock. 6. Considered one of the best examples of ancient urban planning, the site of Sigiriya became an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The rock is 200 metres high and visitors can walk the 1,200 steps, divided amongst a number of staircases, to the top.
Prior to King Kasyapa using Sigiriya as his residence, it’s thought the rock was a Buddhist monastery. It was once again used as a monastery after Kasyapa’s death till it was abandoned in the 14th century.
