The Castle in the Sky in its magnificent palace version stands isolated, like Mount Olympus.

By MOOK Scenic Spots Jun(e), compiled and reported

Since the release of Hayao Miyazaki's animated film *Castle in the Sky* in 2002, the image of a floating city built on massive rocks has been deeply imprinted on the hearts of fans, leading to the discovery of many similar landscapes around the world. Located in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is an ancient palace perched atop a 200-meter-high rock formation known as Lion Rock. It is famed for the Sigiriya Frescoes, the only surviving non-religious murals in Sri Lankan history. This fortress-like citadel was built in the 5th century during the reign of King Kashyapa and is ranked alongside other UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Indonesia's Borobudur, Cambodia's Angkor Wat, and India's Ajanta Caves.

Like a massive rock that fell from the sky, Lion Rock sits abruptly atop a vast plain. The site is surrounded by a moat and features palaces, fortresses, water gardens, frescoes, and a large reservoir measuring 27 meters by 21 meters. Legend has it that in the 5th century, a prince who usurped the throne moved the capital here to escape revenge. Another theory suggests this was once a grand meditation site.