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Sigiriya is famous for its toadstool of golden -hued granite, protruding 183m into the searing blue sky from a hot, flat wilderness of scrubland, which is transformed in the rainy season to a water garden. In the 5th century, a king domesticated the Lion rock, as it is known, by building a palace atop its summit.
Just gazing at the Lion Rock will be enough for many people since to climb it is somewhat precarious. But due to the high numbers of visits the archelogy department has constructed stairs to make the climb easier.
Frescoes from the 5th century of bare-breasted women, acknowledged as art treasures, can be seen on the side of the rock. You reach the viewing edge by hauling yourself up an iron spiral staircase pegged to the rock’s face. The frescoes, shaded from the elements by a canvas awning and smeared with cement, look better on postcards than real life. A logo to attract tourists to Sri Lanka was based on the vibrant depiction of a nubile female found in one of the frescoes, holding a flower in a classical-dance gesture. Sigiriya was a royal citadel for 18 years, from AD477 to 495. Its creator was king Kashyapa (473-91) who left Anuradhapura and built his palace on the rock.
Usually, the best time to start the climb is early morning. Our experienced chauffer guide will be there with to the top.
Penni