 Sigiriya (Lion Rock) |
 An ancient magma plug from a long-ago-eroded volcano |
 Rising from the central plains, it's very impressive |
 People on the top |
 Water gardens on the approach to the rock - crocodiles about |
 Yep, we saw one take this bird |
 Water gardens |
 Water gardens |
 Gardens |
 Water gardens |
 The climbing starts |
 Passing through these two huge boulders |
 We can see spiral staircases on the wall of the rock, all will be revealed later |
 Near the base of the rock |
 Then we climb steep stone staircases |
 We get great views as we go... |
 ...it's also an opportunity to catch our breaths |
 We reach the The Lion's Paws |
 At one time a gigantic brick lion sat at this end of the rock |
 We walk up between the paws... |
 ...and start the final ascent... |
 ...to the top |
 Yay, we made it, Pete at the top |
 Jackie at the top |
 King Kasyapa (r477-495) built... |
 ...a garden and... |
 ...palace at the top |
 This spectaculer terraced summit... |
 ...covers 1.6 hectares |
 It was worth the climb |
 Ruins of the palace buildings |
 Water tank hewn out of the rock |
 We also get fabulous views all around |
 Pidurangula |
 Pidurangula |
 Views off into the distance |
 We can see the water gardens down below |
 Water gardens |
 Forest all around |
 Macaques at the summit, grabbed a fellow tourist's cola |
 We start our descent, stone steps |
 Then metal steps |
 You can see the original grooves and steps cut into the rock |
 It's a popuar site |
 Still going down... |
 ...then we traverse a metal walkway around the rock |
 It takes us to the Mirror Wall |
 Then to the spiral staircases |
 These go up and down to frescoes decorating the rock face |
 No photos of the frescoes are allowed but there are photos below, from the museum reproductions |
 Back at the bottom, we explore the Cistern Rock |
 The Cistern Rock |
 Frogs in the cistern |
 Near the Audience Hall |
 Boulder Arch |
 Cobra Hood Cave |
 Cobra Hood Cave |
 Carved plaque 4th -5th century |
 Buddha image 8th - 10th century |
 Buddha image 5th - 7th century |
 Female deity 5th - 7th century |
 Lion 13th - 14th century |
 Reproductions of the rock frescoes |
 Frescoes that represent apsaras (celestial nymphs) or... |
 ...King Kasyapa's concubines |
 Frescoes |
 Lots of macaques |
 Macaques |
 Macaques |
 Having a wee drink |
 Using the power cables to get around |
 Elephant ride |
 Beer and cocktails on the river |
 Fun restaurant |
 Oxen pull carts... |
 ...for village tours |
 We stayed at Jungle Path Lodge, aptly named |
 Cheers from Sigiriya |
 Cheers |