Starting from : Sigiriya
Time Duration : Approximately 3 hrs
Meals : Not Included
Sigiriya Rock Fortress (The Lion Rock )is an ancient rock fortress located in the northern Matale District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. This is a historical and archaeological site that is dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 ft) high and is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. It is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning.
King Kashyapa (477 – 495 AD) built his palace on the top of this rock and decorated its sides with colorful frescoes. The gateway of the palace was carved out of the rock in the form of an enormous lion and hence derived the name ‘the Lion Rock’. It was used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.
In 477 AD, Kashyapa I killed his father, King Dhatusena, following a coup and fearing an attack from his rightful heir to the throne, Moggalana, and to protect himself, he built this massive fortress away from the traditional capital Anuradhapura.