Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Sigiriya
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka apsara figure in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Map showing the location of Sigiriya, a historical site in central Sri Lanka, with surrounding regions including southern India, the Maldives, the Laccadive Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. An inset globe highlights the region's position in South Asia. Sri Lanka: ancient city of Sigiriya
Quizzes
Temple ruins of columns and statures at Karnak, Egypt (Egyptian architecture; Egyptian archaelogy; Egyptian history)
History Buff Quiz
Quick Facts
Also called:
Lion Rock or Lion Mountain
Related Topics:
palace
Related Places:
Sri Lanka
See all related content
Britannica AI Icon
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka The Sigiriya rock pillar, on top of which are the ruins of an ancient palace, central Sri Lanka.

Sigiriya

historical site, Sri Lanka
Also known as: Lion Mountain, Lion Rock
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
Last updated
•History
apsara figure in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
apsara figure in Sigiriya, Sri LankaPainted figure of an apsara, fresco from the Sigiriya World Heritage site, central Sri Lanka, 6th century.

Sigiriya, site in central Sri Lanka consisting of the ruins of an ancient stronghold that was built in the late 5th century ce on a remarkable monolithic rock pillar. The rock, which is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet (349 metres) above sea level and is some 600 feet (180 metres) above the surrounding plain.

Map showing the location of Sigiriya, a historical site in central Sri Lanka, with surrounding regions including southern India, the Maldives, the Laccadive Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean. An inset globe highlights the region's position in South Asia.
Sigiriya, Sri LankaSigiriya, Sri Lanka, designated a World Heritage site in 1982.

The Sinhalese king Kashyapa I (reigned 477–495) built a palace in the shape of a monumental lion on the several acres of ground at the summit, intending it to be a safeguard against his enemies. However, the king was defeated in 495, and the palace fell into ruin. The site soon became a pilgrimage destination, however, and it is now a popular tourist spot. Visitors begin the final ascent to the top through the open paws of the lion, one of the few remaining portions of the palace that are still intact. Also notable are 21 rock paintings of apsaras (celestial singers and dancers). Sigiriya was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher.
Discover the fascinating events that shaped the world, straight from our editors.
By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.