Sigiriya: Peak of Sri Lanka's civilization

Getting up to the royal city of Sigiriya, one imagines, would feel similar to using the staircase to climb the Empire State Building, as one is royally shagged when one enters the city.

But it's worth it.

The only way to reach what is described as the eighth wonder of the ancient world, located on the summit of a giant rock, is by climbing the many iron staircases attached to it.

The palace, which is the center of the royal city, lies about 200 meters above the green jungle that surrounds the rock and some 360 meters above sea level.

The Mahavamsa, the ancient historical record of Sri Lanka, says the city was created by King Kasyapa of Anuradhpura, the son of a commoner bride and a parricide, who murdered his father King Dhatusena by walling him up alive. Kasyapa then usurped the throne which rightfully belonged to his half-brother Mogallana.

To escape from the armies of Mogallana, Kasyapa is said to have built his palace on the summit of Sigiriya, while his brother was exiled to India.

Kasyapa and his master-builders named the site Simha-Giri or the Mountain of the Lion.

Kasyapa enjoyed his incredible palace and city for 11 years until his Mogallana returned to Sri Lanka in 495 AD with an army to avenge his father's murder.

During the battle on the bottom of the rock, Kasyapa was left by his soldiers. He then committed suicide to prevent being captured by his younger brother's army. -- Bambang Nurbianto