Sigiriya is a fifth century fortress in Sri Lanka which has been carved out of an inselberg, a hill of hard volcanic rock. It towers around 600 feet (182.8m) from the forest and gardens below, and has a flat top. This is where the palace of King Kasyapa once stood, reachable up a winding stone staircase. Today, you can climb the 1270 steps to see the well preserved ruins of Sigiriya, a UNESCO heritage site known as the eighth wonder of the world.

Set off early, before the sun gets too H๏τ and the crowds arrive. At the base of the rock, you’ll pᴀss through a series of beautifully manicured gardens. There are the water gardens, complete with fountains and ponds where people used to bathe. Then there are the boulder gardens, named for the large rocks scattered across the sun-dappled grᴀss – they were once the foundations of an ancient monastery, built around the third century BC. But despite the beauty of the gardens, your eyes will be perpetually drawn back to the looming silhouette of Sigiriya itself.

Close to the top of the fortress, you’ll come across Lion’s Gate; a staircase with two huge stone lion paws on either side. There was once a lion’s face hewn into the rock as well, but it’s been eroded by the elements. This is how Sigiriya – which translates as ‘lion rock’ – got its name. Continue walking, and soon you’ll be at the top. This is where the palace once stood; you can still see the terraced palace gardens, and ancient walls and fortifications. The view over the surrounding jungle is incredible.

Even today, the scale and intricacy of these ruins are magnificent. But who built this fortress on top of a rock, surrounded by humid jungle, and why? To find out the answer, you’ll need to go back all the way to the fourth century…