Sigiriya is approximately in the middle of the island, and rising out of the mist and the jungle is a huge rock fortress. The caves around the rock were initially the homes of the monks from about 5th century BC. However King Kashyapa turned the area into his palace grounds in 475 - 499 AD and built his winter palace on the top of the rock. So if there's a rock to be climbed I have gotta do it, even if the path is narrow, steep and involves scaling around the side of this huge rock.
Amazing technology they used in those days, by carving out small toe holds from the rock and then cementing bricks into the toe holds and building onto the brick work.They even carved out drip furrows so the rain water didn't run down teh roof of the rock into their caves. About half way up is an over hang.(The clay coloured strip in the photos) The king had some beautiful paintings painted of his concubine women. Today the colours and the artistry are still magnificent. Mid way there were the some gardens, and then the climb really was a scale around the side of the rock, but the elation on reaching the top, fantastic
The views from the top breath taking. Climbing up there was breath taking too, but for a different reason, and maybe not the place for the faint hearted.
The photos show the rock looming in front and the reverse view from the top
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