Sigiriya

Sigiriya, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 under criteria (ii), (iii), and (iv), is an ancient rock fortress rising 180 meters (590 feet) above the central plains of Sri Lanka. Built by King Kashyapa I (477-495 CE) after usurping the throne and murdering his father King Dhatusena, this 'Lion Rock' served as both royal citadel and pleasure palace during his 18-year reign. Archaeological evidence indicates the area was inhabited from the Mesolithic period (circa 3000 BCE) and served as a Buddhist monastery complex from the 3rd century BCE until the 13th-14th centuries CE. The site represents one of the best-preserved examples of ancient urban planning, featuring sophisticated water management systems, elaborate gardens (among the world's oldest landscaped gardens), and remarkable engineering achievements. The fortress complex includes defensive structures, royal palaces, and the famous Lion Gate - a massive lion sculpture whose head has collapsed but whose paws and platform remain. After Kashyapa's death in 495 CE during battle with his half-brother Moggallana, the capital returned to Anuradhapura and Sigiriya became a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century.