Photographs show different viewpoints, dates and conditions. They do not establish current access to a particular route. Every image is credited below.
Sigiriya connects a lowland setting with an extraordinary elevated site. Gardens, rock surfaces, passages and the summit form different chapters of the visit. Looking at how movement is channelled through the place makes the architecture more legible.
Plan the climb for manageable conditions and check the current route. The gardens and lower areas deserve time of their own, whether or not you complete the ascent.