historic site · Sigiriya

About 20 surviving paintings of women emerging from clouds, in a sheltered gallery halfway up Sigiriya Rock and reached by a spiral staircase. Graffiti on the Mirror Wall suggests there were once around 500.

Best time to visit

Early morning, before the queue on the spiral staircase builds

Typical visit duration

10 to 15 minutes

Tips

Included in the Sigiriya ticket. Photography is not allowed in the gallery. The spiral stairs are narrow and one-way at busy times.