Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Arguably the most breathtaking sight contained within the country's so-called cultural triangle, this ancient Ceylon city has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC. Also known as Lion Mountain for the giant clawed feet carved into the granite alongside a staircase leading to the remains of a fortified palace built atop the 370-meter peak, the site also features a series of stunning frescoes and lashings of "Sigiri graffiti," one of the most ancient texts in the Sinhalese language.