The rock fortress was made the capital city of King Kashyapa I after he fled the former capital of Anuradhapura for fear of retaliation from his brother, the rightful heir to the throne after Kashyapa murdered their father. He reigned from 477 to 495 BC. The climb is scintillating, with five levels. At each level, you can see something new like the water gardens, the rock caves, the frescos on the face of the rock, the mirror wall and finally the ruins of the palace. The prominence of the rock makes it the main attraction in and around many a Sigiriya hotel, as the fortress towers over the otherwise flatlands of the former kingdom.