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Sigiriya is an ancient city and archaeological site located in the Matale District of Sri Lanka’s Central Province.

The earliest evidence of human activity at the site comes from the Mesolithic period, with remains found in the Aligala rock shelter on the eastern face of Sigiriya. Centuries later, between the 3rd and 1st centuries BC, Buddhist monks established rock shelters and cave dwellings in the area.

According to the Cūḷavaṃsa, the historical chronicle of Sri Lanka’s monarchs, King Kashyapa I (477–495 AD) of the Mauryan dynasty chose Sigiriya as his new capital, moving it from Anuradhapura.

During his reign, Sigiriya evolved into a sophisticated urban city centred on Sīnhāgiri (“Lion Rock”), a massive granite outcrop rising 200 metres above the surrounding plain. The rock was originally accessed through a monumental gateway shaped as a colossal lion, with its head (now lost) towering above carved paws that still remain.

Atop the rock stood the royal palace and citadel, with landscaped gardens and a rock-cut pool. A mid-level terrace blended geometric design with the natural surroundings, reflecting advanced concepts of symmetry and harmony between man-made and natural forms.

The city below was carefully planned on a square layout. The western precinct featured water gardens, boulder and cave gardens, terraced gardens, and summer palaces, while the southern sector contained a vast reservoir, and the eastern precinct held further administrative and residential zones.

Sigiriya’s role as a royal capital was short-lived. In 495 AD, Kashyapa was defeated by his half-brother Prince Moggallana, and, facing capture, took his own life. Moggallana restored Anuradhapura as the capital and ruled as Moggallana I (496–513 AD).

Afterward, Sigiriya became a Buddhist monastic complex, active until the 13th or 14th century, before being abandoned and reclaimed by jungle.

The site was rediscovered in 1831 by Major Jonathan Forbes of the British Army, who described the “bush-covered summit of Sigiriya.” Systematic archaeological research began in the 1890s under H.C.P. Bell, and major excavations have continued since the launch of Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle Project in 1982, which revealed the broader urban landscape surrounding the rock.