Sigiriya

This rock fortress was builtby King Kasyapa in the Sthcentury A.D. and was a royalcitadel for more than 18 years.In a sheltered pocket, approached by a spiral stairway,are the famous frescoes. Thesummit of the rock, with an ~area of nearly one hc. was thesite of the palace, the outerwall of which was built on thevery brink of the precipice.Originally there were gardens,cisterns and ponds laid out attractively.