Sigiriya is probably one of the most visited provinces in Sri Lanka located in Matale district, central Sri Lanka. It's home of the Sigiriya Lion Rock, which is one of the 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Sri Lanka.
Sigiriya Lion Rock is a visibly enormous rock plateau, standing 370 meters above sea level. It's said to have formed from a magma of an extinct volcano. The monks first created a monastery on top during the 3rd century. Two centuries later, former Sri Lankan ruler King Kasyapa built an ancient kingdom on this rock. It consisted of a palace, fortress, several gardens, and a complex hydraulic system.
The first few climbs are on the cemented paths and stairs, followed by the narrow and spiral-shaped metal staircase leading to the western wall of Sigiriya Lion Rock. The west side is a must-see and an important area of the complex, called the frescoes. It showcases ancient paintings on the rock wall that are creative representations of female art. As to who these woman were, they're said to be the wives and concubines of King Kasyapa.
Note: Taking pictures isn’t allowed at the frescoes, regardless of whether you have a phone or professional camera, with or without flash. I highly advise to mind the signs because authorities take the no-photo policy seriously, unless otherwise you want your gadget to get confiscated and be brought to the police.
After the frescoes, there’s detour to continue the rest of the climb. Another significant area is the feet and claws of the lion, which marks the entrance to the palace. Back then, it had a complete carved image of a lion, but only the feet and claws have survived the test of time. It's so significant it's where the name “Sigiriya” originated. The Sinhalese word “sighari” means “lion rock” in English.
Aside from history, Sigiriya Lion Rock is also a testament of an awesome ancient water engineering. The complex has several pools, canals, dams, and fountains that collected and kept water especially during the rainy reason. These were distributed throughout Sigiriya, proving early innovation in building and running a complex hydraulic system.
Consisted of several gardens, Sigiriya Lion Rock is surrounded by lush green. It's definitely a very relaxing place; it literally breathes fresh air. At the top, the province of Sigiriya can be seen in 360-degree view. The beauty at the top is beyond amazing, and makes the climb all worth it.
Climbing the Sigiriya Lion Rock, in my opinion, was easy. The paths are almost all cemented and there are metal staircases that helped a lot despite the elevation. It should take around 45 minutes, but depends on the volume of visitors. It could get very crowded you cannot climb the stairs. The only challenge I experienced was the strong wind situation that made sense as windy season in Sri Lanka runs from May to September.
I have to mention the very friendly Sri Lankans who made the climb fun and well-accompanied! Thank you so much!
Entrance fee: USD 30
Paying in local currency (LKR) is allowed. The amount depends on the day’s conversion rate (I paid LKR 4470).
Hours: The site is open from 7AM to 7PM, but the ticket counter is only open until 5PM daily.
Once in Habarana, Sigiriya is around 30 minutes away with a distance of less than 20 km. There are buses with a Habarana-Sigiriya route, but not all the time. Tuk tuk is a more frequent transportation that can bring you to Sigiriya. The rate varies (haggle as much as you can!) but for reference, the rate is around LKR 50 per kilometer for cities outside Colombo.
Sigiriya Lion Rock is a visibly enormous rock plateau, standing 370 meters above sea level. It's said to have formed from a magma of an extinct volcano. The monks first created a monastery on top during the 3rd century. Two centuries later, former Sri Lankan ruler King Kasyapa built an ancient kingdom on this rock. It consisted of a palace, fortress, several gardens, and a complex hydraulic system.
The first few climbs are on the cemented paths and stairs, followed by the narrow and spiral-shaped metal staircase leading to the western wall of Sigiriya Lion Rock. The west side is a must-see and an important area of the complex, called the frescoes. It showcases ancient paintings on the rock wall that are creative representations of female art. As to who these woman were, they're said to be the wives and concubines of King Kasyapa.
| Photo from lanka.com |
After the frescoes, there’s detour to continue the rest of the climb. Another significant area is the feet and claws of the lion, which marks the entrance to the palace. Back then, it had a complete carved image of a lion, but only the feet and claws have survived the test of time. It's so significant it's where the name “Sigiriya” originated. The Sinhalese word “sighari” means “lion rock” in English.
Aside from history, Sigiriya Lion Rock is also a testament of an awesome ancient water engineering. The complex has several pools, canals, dams, and fountains that collected and kept water especially during the rainy reason. These were distributed throughout Sigiriya, proving early innovation in building and running a complex hydraulic system.
Consisted of several gardens, Sigiriya Lion Rock is surrounded by lush green. It's definitely a very relaxing place; it literally breathes fresh air. At the top, the province of Sigiriya can be seen in 360-degree view. The beauty at the top is beyond amazing, and makes the climb all worth it.
Climbing the Sigiriya Lion Rock, in my opinion, was easy. The paths are almost all cemented and there are metal staircases that helped a lot despite the elevation. It should take around 45 minutes, but depends on the volume of visitors. It could get very crowded you cannot climb the stairs. The only challenge I experienced was the strong wind situation that made sense as windy season in Sri Lanka runs from May to September.
I have to mention the very friendly Sri Lankans who made the climb fun and well-accompanied! Thank you so much!
What to bring
Make sure to bring bottled water before you climb. Ambulant vendors aren't allowed in the climbing area so don't expected you could buy something along the way. Also, wear sunscreen and insect repellent. Sri Lanka has a very humid temperature, especially in June. Unlike other tourist sites in Sri Lanka (especially in temples), there's no dress code to enter Sigiriya Lion Rock. Just wear modest comfortable clothes and shoes.Entrance fee: USD 30
Paying in local currency (LKR) is allowed. The amount depends on the day’s conversion rate (I paid LKR 4470).
Hours: The site is open from 7AM to 7PM, but the ticket counter is only open until 5PM daily.
How to get there
There are several ways to get to Sigiriya coming from Colombo where Bandaranaike International Airport is at. The cheaper (but longer) route is to get a train at Colombo Fort station in Colombo, and then alight at Habarana station. Note that are only 2 train schedules daily (6:05AM and at night), so make sure to be at the train station early.Once in Habarana, Sigiriya is around 30 minutes away with a distance of less than 20 km. There are buses with a Habarana-Sigiriya route, but not all the time. Tuk tuk is a more frequent transportation that can bring you to Sigiriya. The rate varies (haggle as much as you can!) but for reference, the rate is around LKR 50 per kilometer for cities outside Colombo.
Shelly Viajera Travel
