The Rock Fortress

Considered a must-visit attraction, Sigiriya is an abandoned palace (its ruins are almost entirely eradicated) at the top of a soaring, gargantuan bolder. Those with vertigo should avoid as the ascent is up an extremely steep, extremely narrow staircase. Traces of ancient frescoes are still visible on some walls, and two lion's paws, hewn from the rock and dating from the 5th century, are a unique design feature placed at the base of the final stairwell.