Standing at the foot of that great staircase leading up to the top of the rock, glancing upon those great paws at the sides, one can only imagine what the great lion head that is said to have once existed there had looked like. Resorts in Sri Lanka are many which allow such ponderings with ease at the site and Aliya Resort & Spa stands out amongst the other hotels in Sigiriya for its exceptional service and convenience of location. It is because of this gate that Sigiriya gained its name, for “singha” is the name for lion in Sinhala and “giriya” being translated into rock. A steep flight of limestone steps lead to the top of the rock from the lion platform which is located about half way up the rock. Flanked by two humongous lion paws is the final stairway up the rock, leading towards the palace complex. Lions being an important symbol of power in the Sinhala royalty, it is not hard to see why King Kashyapa chose a lion’s mouth to enter the palace complex. One cannot help but be impressed by the sheer size and the dexterity of craft being displayed by this colossal construction and it is not hard to imagine why the rock fortress inspired such awe in the eyes of all those who have visited it over the years.