A granite monolith rising ~200 meters, Sigiriya became King Kashyapa’s 5th‑century hilltop citadel with water gardens, mirror wall, and famed frescoes. Later a monastery, the UNESCO site blends engineered hydraulics with landscape design. Today, conservation stabilizes rock stairs, murals, and pools while visitor management balances safety, heritage, and Sri Lanka’s tourism economy.
Kashyapa (r. 477–495) raised palatial terraces atop the rock, accessed through lion‑paw portals. Below lie axial water gardens with pressure‑fed fountains operating even in rains, plus boulder gardens and galleries.
Frescoes of celestial maidens and the polished “mirror wall” (with ancient graffiti) embody courtly and devotional culture. Lime plasters, pigments, and exposed stone require precise conservation cycles.
Gravity‑fed systems and ponds demonstrate advanced hydraulic planning. Steep stairs and cantilevered walkways demand corrosion control, anchorage checks, and crowd metering.
After Kashyapa’s fall, Sigiriya reverted to monastic use. Rediscovery in the 19th century spurred archaeology; today interpretation counters myths while embracing living heritage.
