Sigiriya is a huge rock formation in Sri Lanka, also known as the Lion Mountain. On top is the ruins of the palace and fortress of King Kasyapa, who moved the capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya upon seizing the throne, and began building the mountain fortress in 477 AD. It is accessible by more than 1200 steps carved into the rock. The palace is in ruins, but the walls, and an enormous pool remain. Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
At the foot of the rock are more amazing relics of a bygone era. The royal garden system includes the water gardens, the boulder and cave garden, and the terraced gardens. These are fed by a complex irrigation system using both rainwater collected on top of the mountain and nearby reservoirs. The system is powered by gravity in an astoundingly clever system, considering it was developed 1500 years ago. The irrigation, fountains, and waterfalls still work!
Read about Sigiriya and its impressive water gardens at BBC Travel. -via Damn Interesting