The beautiful stone fortress of Sigiriya is one of Sri Lanka's most popular sites. The 600-foot towering red boulder juts out of the surrounding forest, offering an expansive view of the countryside, but despite it's beauty the palace at the top of the boulder has a dark history.

The rock has been inhabited since the third century BC as attested by drawings on the wall. Some of the drawings actually prove the existence of ancient graffiti, reported the Sri Lanka Sunday Times. But the boulder may never have become famous if it hadn't been chosen by the Ceylon King Kassapa in the fifth century AD.

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According to UNESCO, Kassapa had his father assassinated and dispossessed his brother in order to attain the throne. He chose what is now Sigiriya Rock for the location of his palace because the giant boulder, named 'Lion's Rock', seemed impenetrable. Despite his best efforts, Kassapa was still slain.

Today the ruins of the palace and the gardens at the foot of the boulder are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourists can hike up the narrow stairways to the summit of the rock and enjoy the breathtaking view. They can also see the enormous lion paws carved halfway up the mountain. The paws are all that remains of what was once a lion's head whose mouth was the entrance to the royal palace, says Amazing Lanka. Visitors can also gaze upon the ancient frescoes of unidentified women, known as "The Maidens of the Clouds."

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The three large pyramids of Menkaure (L), Khafre (C) and Khufu loom over the horizon November 13, 2004 at Giza, just outside Cairo, Egypt. The three large pyramids at Giza, built by King Khufu over a 30 year period around 2,550 B.C., are among Egypt's biggest tourist attractions. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)