In the centre of the island of Sri Lanka the rock fortress Sigiriya rises spectacularly 200 metres from the plain like a "Heavenly Castle". Here, the story of KASSAPA, who usurped the throne in 473, lives on.

He had his father walled up alive and his half-brother fled to South India. From then on, Kassapa lived in fear of his return and had the Simha Giri fortress built on a steeply towering monolith of gneiss-stone. He had Water Gardens built around the rock monolith.

Directly behind the inner city wall is the Picture Cave at the foot of the rock. Buddhist monks once lived here and left scriptures. The so-called Cobra rock rises almost threateningly, reminiscent of an erect Cobra, and located at the entrance to another cave.

You continue to climb up the stairs and cross Terrace Gardens and further up to the Rock Garden. The knowledge and techniques of the early builders were essential to the creation of these sites. Suddenly, the Mirror Wall appears and hidden behind are the pictures of the Cloud - Girls painted on the rock wall. Of the original 500, only 17 remain.

But the narrow path continues onwards and we reach the so-called Lions Platform. The actual climb to the palace on the SIGIRIYA rock starts between two colossal lion's paws. At the very top, Kassapa had his Palace Complex built on 1.5 hectares on a sloping plateau. The palace is the uppermost center of the royal city.

But eventually, after 18 years, his half-brother returned with a mercenary army and defeated Kassapa. His warriors fled and Kassapa committed suicide in Sigiriya.