Sigiriya Frescoes & Mirror Wall
Ancient 5th-century frescoes depicting 21 cloud maidens painted on Sigiriya Rock, alongside a polished mirror wall with 8th-century visitor inscriptions.
Duration
Included in 3-4 hour Sigiriya Rock visit
Entry Fee
$30 USD
Difficulty
moderate
Budget
expensive
About Sigiriya Frescoes & Mirror Wall
The Sigiriya frescoes date to the reign of King Kashyapa I (477-495 AD) and originally covered a much larger area of the rock face. Today 21 of an estimated 500 figures survive in a sheltered pocket of the western face, accessible via a spiral metal staircase at around 100 metres above ground. The Mirror Wall beside them is coated in lime plaster polished to a reflective finish, and bears graffiti inscriptions dating from the 7th to 11th centuries, making it one of the oldest collections of Sinhalese poetry and commentary in existence. Arrive at opening time (7am) to view the frescoes in morning light before crowds accumulate on the narrow staircase. The frescoes are included in the main Sigiriya Rock Fortress entry fee.
Highlights
- 21 surviving 5th-century rock frescoes
- 8th to 11th-century Sinhalese graffiti poetry
- Mirror Wall with ancient lime plaster finish
- Included in Sigiriya Rock Fortress ticket
Practical Tips
Go up to the frescoes early — the staircase is narrow and gets very crowded by 9am.
Photography of the frescoes is permitted from the viewing platform but no flash.
Wear shoes with good grip — the metal stairs are steep and exposed to wind.
Explore by Interest
Best Time to Visit
Best time of day: Early morning (7am–9am) year-round; avoid midday heat on the exposed rock face
Location
Planning Info
- Crowd level
- Very busy
- Physical difficulty
- moderate
- Setting
- mixed
- Child friendly
- Yes
- Senior friendly
- No
- Budget level
- expensive
- Photography
- ★★★★★
Plan Your Visit
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ALSO IN THE AREA
Nearby Destinations
Pidurangala Rock
A 200m rock outcrop 1.5km north of Sigiriya offering the best panoramic view of Sigiriya Rock, with a reclining Buddha at the summit base dating to the 6th century.
Explore →
Dambulla Cave Temple
A UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 5 rock cave temples at 160m above the plain, containing 153 Buddha statues and 2,100 sq m of cave paintings dating from the 1st century BC.
Explore →
Sigiriya Rock Fortress
5th-century palace and fortress built atop a 200m granite monolith by King Kashyapa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most visited paid attraction in Sri Lanka.
Explore →
PLAN YOUR VISIT
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