Amazing Things to do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is one of the most important and important places
in the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. Lion Rock - Sigiriya has a truly unique
shape, stands at a height of nearly 200 meters, and mysteriously rises out of
the jungle. Sigiriya was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982. The
rock satisfies both adrenaline fanatics, history buffs, artists, and those
looking for a great view. Sigiriya, the city where the Lion Rock is located, is
now a tourist city. In this tour guide, I will tell you about Sigiriya and what
you can do here.
Sigiriya (Lion Rock)
Sigiriya is a small town in the northeastern part of Sri
Lanka. It is about a two-hour drive from Kandy or Anuradhapura. The same place
does not represent much. There are some restaurants, souvenir shops, and many
hotels and guest houses. The biggest attraction here is actually Lion Rock. If
you are in the middle, you can already see the rock, it is the towers above the
houses and trees.
In the middle of a beautiful botanical garden surrounded by
jungle, Lion Rock is two hundred meters above all the greenery! There was a
palace on this huge rock in the fifth century AD. A palace with a swimming
pool, frescoes, and even a carved lion. Today you can see the ruins of this
palace on the rock. Of course, enjoy the view. At the bottom of the rock, you
will find the Royal Garden, the beautiful garden.
- Timings - 7AM–5PM
- Location – Google Map
Pidurangala Rock
The nearby Pidurangala rock is exactly where the lion rock
disappears. We climbed it at sunset and got a beautiful view of the famous rock
and surroundings of Sigiriya! The first part is easy to walk on, and the last part
is just a bit wrestling (so wear shoes instead of sandals). The best view from
Pidurangala rock on Sinha rock is at sunrise or sunset. The temperature at that
time was also pleasant enough to make this rise.
- Timings - 4AM–8PM
- Location – Google Map
Dambulla Cave Temple
About half an hour drive from Sigiriya is the town of
Dambulla. Dambulla is a big city where Sigiriya is no more than a street with a
few restaurants. Here you will find the cave temple. The temple consists of
five caves filled with Buddha statues and murals. The first caves belong to the
first century BC. All temples vary from very small to quite large. The cave
temple is located above the hill town. You will also have a beautiful view of
the surroundings from here. This place is popular, so make sure you're here as soon
as possible.
- Timings - 7 AM–7PM
- Location – Google Map
Golden Temple in Dambulla
Next to the cave temple is another temple, a golden temple. It
consists of a large golden dagoba and a large golden Buddha statue. It is very
nice and quiet in the middle of the night as there are very few visitors here
than the visitors to the cave temple. Admission here is free.
- Timings - 4 AM–12PM
- Location – Google Map
Minneriya National Park
Did you know that you can also go on a safari from Sigiriya?
Minneriya National Park is located north of the city. If elephant sightings are
on the to-do list at Sigiriya, you should take a day trip to Minneriya National
Park. It is also famous for other wildlife, especially birds. For example, the park
is much quieter than Yala National Park and has a large number of wildlife.
As it is written, the entrance fee to the park is $ 15 per
person, then you will need to rent a jeep safari for the day. The more you do,
the cheaper it is. Your hotel or hostel should be able to help you find a good
local supplier. You can spot elephants (sometimes outside the park gates),
buffaloes, and various bird species here. In Kaudulla National Park, you can
even see deer, leopards, and other cats!
- Timings - 6 AM–6:30PM
- Location – Google Map