SIGIRIYA

At Sigiriya, Sri Lanka's ancient history is at its most melodramatic. The fascinating rock fotress was the stronghold of a fifth century king who murdered his father. Sigiriya is world famous for its entrancing frescoes painted on a sheltered rock pocket - only nineteen out of the original five hundred painted in the fifth century remain. The Lion Stairway, the Mirror Wall with its ancient egg-white and honey glaze and the lovely Water Gardens are Sigiriya's other highlights.