Sigiriya Rock Fortress

This fortress carved into rock, commonly referred to as the 8th wonder of the world, was built roughly around the 5th century AD, in the time of Sri Lanka’s ancient kings. The fortress and city around it exhibit advanced city planning and irrigation techniques for its time, making Sigiriya an icon of ancient Sri Lankan architecture. Sigiriya rock fortress is known for the frescoes of young damsels depicted on its western face by its ancient inhabitants. Before the rock was turned into a fortress, the caves in its base were a sacred place for Brahmins and Buddhist monks, and their inscriptions can still be found inside.