The Sigiriya Frescoes
Around twenty painted women survive on a sheltered ledge halfway up Sigiriya, reached by an open spiral staircase. Photography is banned inside the gallery.
Sources
What the Sigiriya frescoes actually are
The frescoes are paintings of women, usually described as heavenly maidens or as ladies of the royal court. They are in a sheltered gallery cut into the western face of the rock, about halfway up. They are normally dated to the 5th century, the time of Kashyapa I. One museum caption gives the 6th, so treat the date as approximate.
What survives is a fragment. Researchers say the paintings once covered roughly 140 m of the west face and 40 m in height, and graffiti on the Mirror Wall mentions around 500 women. Counts of the surviving figures vary: 18, 19, 21 and 22 all appear in reputable sources, so ‘around twenty’ is the honest figure. The style is often compared to the Ajanta paintings in India.
They have had a hard time. Paint was splashed on them on 14 October 1967, and conservators from Italy worked on the damage into 1968. Conservation specialists now describe the paintings as severely endangered, and the ban on photography is meant to protect them from flashes and from the crowds that come with it.
Worth your attention
The faces and jewellery
Fine outlines, soft colour and elaborate headdresses. The detail is what tells you these are not simple devotional images.
The gallery itself
A long ledge in the rock that has kept off the monsoon rain for about 1,500 years. Notice how little of the original face is left beyond it.
The spiral staircase
An open-air metal spiral leads up to the gallery. Expect a wait at busy times.
The protective cover
Bird droppings once damaged the paintings and a cover has since been built over the gallery. Visitors are kept at a distance by design.
Before you go
Do this
- Go early; queues for the spiral staircase and gallery grow by mid-morning
- Look slowly; with no photography you are not rushed by a camera
- Use the late-afternoon visit if the schedule allows; Lonely Planet says the light suits the paintings then
- Look for the places where colour and outline are clearest rather than trying to see everything
- Keep the Mirror Wall visit for just after, since the verses refer to these women
Know this first
- Photography is banned in the gallery and staff enforce it
- Heavy visitor numbers are one of the threats to the paintings, so staff keep the line moving
- The spiral staircase is narrow and open to the air
- Official counts vary between 18 and 22; do not trust a guide who states one number as fact
Getting to The Sigiriya Frescoes
Most people see The Sigiriya Frescoes as part of a stay around Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Our Sigiriya Rock Fortress guide covers where to stay, how long to give it and what else is nearby.
Coming straight from the airport, the relevant run is Colombo Airport to Sigiriya Rock Fortress — fixed price per vehicle, driver waiting inside arrivals with a name board.
Read the full Sigiriya Rock Fortress guideFrom Colombo Airport
Car up to 3 passengers; vans quoted on the route page. No night surcharge.
The Sigiriya Frescoes — frequently asked
What are the Sigiriya frescoes?
Paintings of women on the western face of Sigiriya Rock, usually dated to the 5th century. They are in a sheltered gallery about halfway up the climb.
How many survive?
Around twenty. Sources differ: UNESCO’s Japanese text says 18, others say 19, 21 or 22.
Can I take photos?
No. Photography has been banned since 30 December 2015 because of flash damage and visitor pressure, and the ban remains.
Who are the women?
Debated. They are usually described as either heavenly maidens (apsaras) or ladies and attendants of Kashyapa’s court.
Also worth stopping for around Sigiriya Rock Fortress
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