Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Sigiriya, Rock, stupendous 5th-century rock fortress citadel of a fugitive king,a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Climb the rock stairway to see the many marvels of Sigiriya -a gallery of beautiful frescoes, the glossy Mirror Wall, the majestic Lion's Stairway and remains of the royal palace

Early on Saturday morning I were picked up by Nishanta and driven in cool comfort to Sigiriya. It is claimed here that it is the 8th Wonder of the World, and although there is dispute over whether it is a Fort/Palace complex (local) or an Ancient Temple complex (Archaeological and literary evidence) the fact remains it is astonishing (as sadly were the entrance fees, 50 rupees local, 3000 rupees tourist). My not entirely fake ire and thunderous face combined with complaints of having no money left keep the notorious would be guides and helpers at bay. I were unable to pay 3000rupees which I find this too expensive but I managed to arrange a cheaper guide of 1000rupees to sneak through the gates.:P

Behind me, These frescos are 1500 years old rock paintings, the world famous maidens of Sigiriya painted in a row of caves.

Sigiriya was built in the 1st and 2nd century BC on and around a huge steep sided rock the plug of a long extinct and now worn away volcano. Around the base formal gardens were laid out including water gardens with hydro-gravitational water fountains which still work when water levels are high enough (they weren’t), a boulder garden and terraced gardens. There are the remains of little shrines and an audience hall on the way to the main rock, and once you start climbing some astonishing wall paintings, variously considered to be representations of Goddesses or concubines, these over 100m up a sheer drop, with spectacular views accessed now by iron walkways which leave me wondering how they were originally painted.

Continuing along the walkway brings you too the penultimate plateau. Here there is a gateway flanked by giant lions paws, all that remains of the huge lion which apparently guarded the entrance and explains the name which means Lion Rock. Hawkers and monkeys alike pester people who wait here, trying in different ways to exploit either by selling or stealing food. The smarter hawkers sell ice creams and water, some astonishingly try and sell wooden carvings and rocks to people climbing. This final climb starts up stairs but soon changes to a rusty and precarious looking series of iron steps which feel thankfully solid. The climb is hot and windy and at times we feel our climbing harnesses would be a good idea. Everywhere signs warn about hornets. Some very large hives are visible and I have read about attacks. OMG!