Sigiriya

It is the rock castle known as the “Eighth Wonder” by some. The 200-meter-tall Sigiriya rock rises above the dense vegetation in Sri Lanka’s central lowlands. During the third century, its caverns housed Buddhist monastic monks. In the 5th century, King Kashyapa transformed it into an outstanding castle in order to protect himself from opposing armies. It is the most well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka. Only the paws of a giant lion statue stood at the entryway leading up to galleries and staircases. The top of the cliff, scattered with palace remains, offers views of the surrounding foggy forests and hills.