Quick answer
Sigiriya is ringed on its western side by an outer and an inner moat with earthen and brick ramparts, enclosing the water gardens in a rectangular precinct. To the south lies Sigiriya Wewa, a large ancient tank that supplied water to the gardens and fields. The moats were both defensive and part of the water system, and crocodiles are still seen in them. Visitors cross them by causeway from the western entrance.
Key takeaways
- Sigiriya's western precinct is enclosed by an outer and an inner moat with ramparts.
- The inner moat is the more substantial of the two, lined in places with brick and stone.
- Sigiriya Wewa, the large tank on the south side, fed water into the gardens and surrounding fields.
- The moats were part of the hydraulic system as well as the defences.
- Crocodiles are regularly seen in the Sigiriya moats, so stay on the paths and never approach the edge.
How the Sigiriya defences are laid out
Sigiriya's defences form a rectangle on the western side of the rock, enclosing the water gardens. An outer moat and rampart form the outer boundary, and an inner moat and rampart form a second line closer to the rock. A similar but less complete arrangement exists on the eastern side.
The rock itself was the final defence. A sheer granite monolith roughly 200 metres high, with access by a single stairway, needed no wall at the top. The moats and ramparts protected the city at its foot.
- →Outer moat and rampart: the outer boundary of the western precinct.
- →Inner moat and rampart: a second line closer to the rock.
- →Eastern precinct: a less complete version of the same.
- →The rock itself: the last and strongest defence.
The inner moat
The inner moat at Sigiriya is the more impressive of the two and the one visitors cross on the main path from the western entrance. It is wide, lined in places with brick and stone, and still holds water through much of the year.
The rampart behind it was once topped by a wall. Standing on the causeway, look left and right along the moat to see how straight it runs, which is one of the clearest signs of the city's planned layout.
Sigiriya Wewa, the tank
Sigiriya Wewa is a large ancient reservoir, or tank, on the south side of the rock. Like the thousands of other tanks across Sri Lanka's dry zone, it collected monsoon rain for use through the dry months.
The tank supplied water into the gardens and moats, and to the fields around. It is still in use for irrigation, and its bund, the earthen dam, makes a good walk or cycle ride in the early morning or late afternoon, with views of the rock across the water.
- →A large ancient tank on the south side of the rock.
- →Fed water to the gardens, moats and surrounding fields.
- →Still used for irrigation today.
- →The bund gives views of the rock across the water.
Crocodiles in the Sigiriya moats
Crocodiles are regularly seen in the moats at Sigiriya, usually mugger crocodiles basking on the banks or floating near the surface. Whether they were deliberately kept there in Kashyapa's time is a popular story but not established.
Today they are a reason to stay on the paths and causeways and keep children close. Never climb down to the water's edge for a photograph, and do not feed them.
- →Crocodiles are regularly seen in the moats.
- →Stay on the paths and causeways.
- →Keep children close near the water.
- →Never approach the water's edge or feed them.
Defence and water engineering together
Sigiriya's moats were not only defensive. They formed part of the site's water system, collecting, storing and moving water between the tank, the gardens and the fields, and the ramparts helped control its flow.
That dual use is typical of ancient Sri Lankan engineering, where the same infrastructure served agriculture, ritual, pleasure and defence. Lankan Stays & Trails guides like to point this out on the causeway, because it changes the moats from a barrier into part of the garden.
Seeing the moats and tank on your visit
You will cross the Sigiriya moats on the way in without effort. To see them properly, pause on the causeway at the inner moat, and look again from the summit, where the full rectangle of the western precinct becomes clear.
For Sigiriya Wewa, go outside the site. A walk or bicycle ride along the tank bund in the late afternoon gives the rock at its best, reflected in the water, and it costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Are there crocodiles at Sigiriya?
Yes. Crocodiles, usually mugger crocodiles, are regularly seen in the moats around Sigiriya. Stay on the paths and causeways, keep children close and never approach the water's edge. Water monitors, large lizards often mistaken for young crocodiles, are also common around the moats.
What is Sigiriya Wewa?
Sigiriya Wewa is a large ancient tank, or reservoir, on the south side of Sigiriya rock. It fed water to the gardens, moats and surrounding fields, and it is still used for irrigation today.
Why does Sigiriya have moats?
For defence and water management. The moats protected the city at the foot of the rock, and they were also part of the system that stored and moved water between the tank, the gardens and the fields.
How many moats does Sigiriya have?
The western precinct has two: an outer moat and an inner moat, each with a rampart. The inner moat, which visitors cross from the main entrance, is the more substantial. There are remains of defences on the eastern side too.
Can you walk around Sigiriya Wewa?
You can walk or cycle along parts of the tank bund, the earthen dam, outside the ticketed site. Early morning or late afternoon gives good views of Sigiriya across the water. Ask locally which stretches are accessible.
Did Kashyapa keep crocodiles in the moats?
It is a popular story, but it is not established by evidence. Crocodiles live naturally in the tanks and waterways of Sri Lanka's dry zone and would have found the moats on their own.