Sigiriya stands nearly 200m tall, in the central province of Sri Lanka. During the reign of King Kashyapa between 477-495CE, this red rocky outcrop was turned into a formidable fortress and pleasure palace, decorated throughout with colourful frescoes.

Approaching the western side of Sigiriya, you pass through the royal gardens. These were once filled with ponds and rare plants for the enjoyment of the king and his entourage, while the rock itself makes for a powerful scene.

The journey to the top of the rock begins by passing under these enormous boulders. Brick stairs go most of the way, but at points there are footholds cut directly into the rocks. Watch your step!

Kashyapa had the entire rock painted with murals of young, nubile women. In 1907, the archaeologist John Still wrote, "The whole face of the hill appears to have been a gigantic picture gallery... the largest picture in the world perhaps."

Standing on the first level, we can see the ornamental lions paws that guard the final staircase to the palace. These were once accompanied by a carved lion's head, which long ago fell to ruins. It's from these features that the rock today takes its name.

Only a few more steps…

The views from the peak are incredible. It's easy to see why such a high-status palace would be built here. It's said that Kashyapa built this fortress to live out his days in luxury, as he had overthrown the previous king and feared his enemies would soon return… and they did.

After King Kashyapa's death, Sigiriya was soon abandoned. It came to be used as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th Century, before being abandoned once again. In 1982, the first large-scale excavations of the site began as part of the government's Cultural Triangle Project.

Discover more art that works with the landscape, including at Kurunegala in Sri Lanka, in Rhythms of Life Land Art