Sigiriya

You can see Sigiriya long before you reach the entrance. The rock rises above the trees, with the remains of an old palace at the top. The visit starts on level ground, where paths lead through gardens, pools and large boulders.

The climb takes you past old wall paintings and a pair of huge stone lion paws. From there, more steps lead to the top. Only parts of the palace remain, but you can still make out walls and pools. Look beyond them and you will see forest, village roofs and hills in the distance.

The straight garden path in the photos helps you picture the approach to the rock. Low brick walls and pools sit on either side, so there is plenty to look at before the first steep steps. Stop here for a wider view of the whole site.

The view from above shows how much space the old buildings took up on the summit. At the lion-paw entrance, look at the size of the carved feet before continuing up the stairs. These two views help connect the gardens below with the palace remains above.

Take the climb at your own pace. Some sections are steep and open to the sun, so water and comfortable shoes help. You can also stay in the lower gardens if you would rather skip the climb.