SIGIRIYA

Location	Central province
Elevation	349 m
Built for	King Kashyapa of Sri Lanka
Visitors	1 million

Sigiriya is an ancient rock fotress located in the northern Matale        District near the town of Dambulla in the Central Province, Sri Lanka.  It is a site of historical and archaeological significance that  dominatedby a massive column of granite approximately 180 m . 

Sigiriya mirror wall

 The Mirror Wall is a plastered brick parapet wall with a two-meter-wide inner passageway. The outermost section of this passageway is built up to create a protective wall. It is believed that the inner surface of this wall had a mirror-like sheen which was achieved by using a special plaster made of fine lime, egg whites, and honey. The surface l was then buffed to a brilliant luster with beeswax. Its luster is still visible today.

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Lion's paws  -  These are the most recognizable feature of  Sigiriya. It is located at the summit of the lion mouth.

Sigiriya water gardens and fountains

Symmetrical Design: The water gardens are a complex masterpiece of irrigation engineering. They consist of pools, fountains, and lawns arranged symmetrically. A main pathway divides a central pool into four sections, with an island at the center. 

Sigiriya as the UNESCO heritage site                                     

On 17th December 1982, after assessing the aforementioned outstanding values in Sigiriya, the World heritage committee decided to inscribe the site a World Heritage Site under Criterion II, III, and IV of the operational Guidelines.