Last Updated on July 29, 2025
Most people visiting Sri Lanka know about Sigiriya Lion Rock. This famous ancient fortress is one of the most popular places to visit in the whole country.
Sigiriya Lion Rock is nearly 200 meters high. The site dates back to 477-495 AD, when King Kasyapa chose this site as his new capital. Today, you’ll find at the top of the fortress the archaeological remains of a palace, frescoes, and more.
What you may not know is that Sigiriya Lion Rock isn’t the only fortress that was built in the Sigiriya region. Mapagala Fortress is another, very nearby Lion Rock.
While its archaeological remains aren’t as impressive as what you’ll find at the top of Lion Rock, climbing Mapagala Fortress is well worth it for beautiful views of Sigiriya.
Read on to learn how you can climb Mapagala Fortress for a beautiful sunset view – which is a totally free activity in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka!
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What is the Mapagala Fortress?
Mapagala Fortress was an ancient fortified complex of the Anuradhapura Kingdom in Sri Lanka. It dates back to before the building of Sigiriya’s Lion Rock Fortress.
While there are few archaeological ruins left on top of the Mapagala Rock Fortress, it’s worth climbing up to the top for panoramic views of Sigiriya.
Why It’s Worth Climbing Mapagala Fortress
The climb up to Mapagala Fortress is worth doing because the top of the fortress is a wonderful sunset view point. And, this is a completely free activity in Sigiriya! So whether you’re spending just a day, or 3 days in Sigiriya, I recommend adding this sunset climb to your itinerary.
The trail up the fortress is easily accessible from Sigiriya Village, and the climb up takes only about 20 minutes. Once you reach the top, you’ll have a beautiful view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, Sigiriya Village, and the surrounding fields and mountains.
How to Hike Up Mapagala Fortress in Sigiriya
We didn’t hear about Mapagala Fortress until we were actually in Sigiriya. We spotted it from the balcony of our hotel, Sigiriya Paradise Inn.
This family-run hotel has a large verandah that overlooks rice fields, and from the verandah you have a clear view of Mapagala Fortress. One evening, we noticed people up on the fortress, and decided we would figure out how to get up there ourselves.
We asked around in Sigiriya Village, and pretty quickly learned where to find the trailhead to the top of Mapagala Fortress. Read on to find out how to get to this view point.
1. Plan Your Mapagala Fortress Hike
Mapagala Fortress is one of three main fortresses that you can climb in Sigiriya. Lion Rock and Pidurangala Rock are the most well-known, and they are popular to climb for sunrise.
Mapagala Fortress, however, is best to climb for sunset. This is because the view points at the top of the fortress are best facing west.
Since the sun sets in the west, you’ll have a view of the sun going down over fields and mountains if you go for sunset.
Plan to start hiking up Mapagala Fortress at least one hour before sunset time. It will take 15 to 30 minutes to get to the top, and you’ll want to get there well before sunset time so that you can enjoy the full spectrum of sunset colors as the sun goes down.
There are no amenities on this fortress, so be sure to bring all the water and snacks you might need. Where sturdy footwear (strapped sandals are okay, but no flip flops) because you’ll have to scramble over a few rocks on the way up.
Be sure to have a torch, or your mobile device charged so you can use its flashlight. You’ll need this to help with navigating back down if you stay on top of the fortress until it’s dark.
2. Find the Mapagala Fortress Trailhead
The trailhead to go up to the top of Mapagala Fortress begins right off of Sigiriya Road, the main road that runs through Sigiriya Village.
When driving or walking east, the trailhead is on the right side of the road, right after you pass a guesthouse called Archaeological Circuit Bungalow. Here are the exact coordinates for the trailhead on Google Maps.
If you drive yourself by moped or tuktuk, you can park on the side of Sigiriya Road.
You will know you’ve found the trailhead because there is a large sign posted on a tree with “MAPAGALA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE” written on it.
3. Follow the Marked Path to the Left
Once you’ve found the trailhead, follow it a couple feet foward until you reach a fork in the path. One path heads to the right, and one to the left. This is very important: follow the trail to the left.
The trail to the left is easy to miss because it leads up a rocky incline. It doesn’t appear as well-worn as the path to the right. But don’t question it! The path to the left is the one you need to follow.
4. Enjoy the Climb (Take it Slow!)
Once you’ve begun the path to the left, it will take 15 to 30 minutes to reach the top of Mapagala Fortress.
The path is easy to follow. Just take it slow because it is steep in some parts. About halfway up, there is a nice viewpoint of Lion’s Rock that you can rest at. This is a great spot for photos of Lion’s Rock.
The final part of the walk up will require you to scramble up some rocks – this is why it’s important to wear sturdy footwear.
5. Take in the Views from Mapagala Fortress
Don’t worry, the steep climb up Mapagala Fortress is worth it. Once you reach the top of the fortress, you’ll have a beautiful sunset view of the surrounding region.
To the north, you can see Lion Rock. While it’s a nice view, there are trees on the top of the fortress that obstruct it. The best view from Mapagala Fortress is to the west. You can see fields of rice, and mountains in the distance.
There’s plenty of space on top of Mapagala Fortress to sit comfortably while watching the sun go down.
If you want to avoid hiking back down in complete darkness, be sure to start heading down as soon as the sun has set. There should be enough light left to climb back down without needing a flashlight.
Mapagala Fortress: A Beautiful Viewpoint in Sigiriya
Mapagala Fortress is one of many reasons why Sigiriya is worth visiting.
Climbing up the fortress is the perfect way to spend an evening in Sigiriya, and you won’t be disappointed by the sunset views. This was one of our favorite view points in all of Sri Lanka!
Just be sure to be respectful as you enjoy this viewpoint. Don’t litter or leave any waste behind on the trail or on the top of Mapagala Fortress. Be sure to follow best practices for being a responsible tourist.
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