The Sigiriya Lion Rock in Sri Lanka is likely one of the nation’s most fascinating and spectacular vacationer points of interest. This UNESCO World Heritage Website contains an unlimited, distinctive rock fortress that’s not like the rest discovered wherever else on the earth.
This is likely one of the most legendary locations in Sri Lanka, and the fortress dates again centuries, and through the years has had many makes use of and has fulfilled many guidelines for native kings, rulers and spiritual leaders.
It’s a surprising instance of historic structure and human ingenuity and top-of-the-line websites to go to in Sri Lanka.
In addition to ruins which can be 1000’s of years outdated, yow will discover exceptionally preserved rock artwork and frescoes, in addition to intensive gardens that have been landscaped over time and that encompass the large rock itself.
It is a place to not be missed, and that will help you to plan your right here journey right here, that is our customer’s information to Sigiriya Sri Lanka.
Don’t depart residence with out: Lonely Planet Sri Lanka (Journey Information)
Sigiriya Lion Rock in Sri Lanka: Plan Your Go to
The place is Lion Rock in Sri Lanka?
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka is positioned within the central province of the nation, in a traditionally essential area that contains many historic websites. The rock itself is sort of remoted, and the closest giant city and transport hub is positioned round 20 miles away at Dambulla.
That is the gateway to Sigiriya and yow will discover buses right here from throughout the nation.
Colombo is round 120 miles away, and to journey from the capital would take a minimal of 4 hours on public transport. You can even journey from common locations comparable to Kandy to the south or Anuradhapura to the north.
From Dambulla, you may catch the general public bus to Sigiriya or rent an area tuk-tuk driver to move you.
Greatest Time to Go to Sigiriya
Sigiriya might be visited all yr spherical as lengthy you don’t thoughts risking heavy rainfall in the course of the wettest components of the yr. The area’s dry season runs from April to September and out of doors of this, monsoons regularly happen within the space.
The busiest season, when the rock might be utterly crowded, is, in fact, the dry season, so touring within the monsoon might be a possibility to see this spectacular web site with few others round, so long as you don’t thoughts getting a little bit moist.
Once you do go to Sigiriya Sri Lanka, it’s finest to try to arrive as early as attainable to keep away from each the extreme warmth and the worst of the crowds.
To get to the summit of the rock entails climbing an enormous set of steps, so it’s finest accomplished within the morning to keep away from overheating within the scorching Sri Lankan solar.
The Historical Metropolis of Sigiriya
Sigiriya is likely one of the most astounding remnants of a previous Sri Lankan civilization. The title of the massive rock itself interprets to English because the Lion’s Rock, due to the large Lion’s Paw that was carved by the doorway guarding the best way in.
The rock is nearly 200 meters excessive and geologically is a plug leftover from the stays of a long-extinct volcano.
The enormous rock is spectacular sufficient by itself account, and that’s earlier than you even start to think about the lengthy historical past and the unbelievable ruins which can be discovered right here.
The realm is assumed to have been inhabited for 1000’s of years, and early Buddhist monks have been a number of the first locals to take shelter within the intensive caves discovered within the rock.
In 477 AD, when King Kashyapa took energy, he began to maneuver his capital metropolis to Sigiriya Sri Lanka, and he started to show this rock into not solely his palace and fortress however into an enormous deliberate metropolis.
The king’s empire although fell in 495 AD and the Lion’s Rock started to fall into disuse and disrepair. The brand new ruler of those lands gave the rock to Buddhist monks, and it remained an essential temple complicated for a lot of centuries till it once more was deserted and left to be overgrown by nature.
It was ‘rediscovered’ in 1831 by British troopers in Sri Lanka, and since then it has been the main focus of a lot archaeological scrutiny, whereas in newer years it’s turn into one of many nation’s most visited vacationer points of interest.
Our high beneficial excursions together with Sigiriya:
- Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Temple all-inclusive Non-public Day Journey
- Full-Day Tour of Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Cave Temples
- Non-public day Tour to Sigiriya from Kandy
- Non-public Day Journey to Sigiriya and Hiriwadunna from Colombo
Visiting the Sigiriya Lion Rock in Sri Lanka
The summit of this spectacular rock might be reached by a set of steep stairs that embody virtually 1200 steps.
It’s a sweaty and arduous slog to the highest, but it surely’s value each step to expertise not solely the expansive views however the ruins of the palace and fortress which can be ready for you.
Earlier than you start the climb although, on the fundamental entrance to this massive compound you have to cross by way of the native museum.
This tells the story of the legends and myths that encompass Sigiriya in addition to offering an in depth historical past that gives you an amazing perception into the significance of the location for previous civilizations, notably for the founding king who constructed his palace right here greater than 1500 years in the past.
The museum additionally focuses extensively on the various excavations which were made over the past hundred years, starting with the British who within the Nineties started to comprehend its significance solely a number of many years after that they had initially rediscovered it.
Once you enter the compound itself, you’ll quickly understand that this was greater than only a fortress. Sigiriya was a whole metropolis, deliberate and designed to perfection by the early architects who constructed it.
As soon as you’re by way of the principle gate, you’ll be contained in the intensive gardens. Sigiriya was constructed symmetrically, and the planning concerned the development of an enormous water reservoir that would maintain 1000’s of people that lived on this royal capital.
Much more spectacular although are the gardens. To achieve the rock, you need to stroll by way of the gorgeous, verdant landscapes which were right here for hundreds of years.
The king ordered these to be constructed as an emblem of standing and for the nobles and royalty to get pleasure from at leisure. They’re regarded as one of many earliest examples of landscaping on the earth, and at the moment they’re stored luscious and inexperienced by a military of staff toiling within the warmth.
Our high beneficial tour together with Sigiriya Lion Rock: Sigiriya Lion Rock Fortress day tour
Hike to the Summit of Lions Rock
After you’ve got admired the gardens, it’s time to climb the rock. Come effectively ready with loads of water, sunscreen and naturally a hat to maintain off the extreme solar. The rock is nearly vertical in form, and to succeed in the highest, virtually 1200 steps have been actually carved into the mountainside.
The trail is steep in locations, so take it sluggish and benefit from the unbelievable views in your means up. On the stroll, you may benefit from the many cave frescoes painted onto the rock partitions itself.
One other essential web site is the Mirror Wall, which was so extremely polished that when it was first constructed, it was thought to have been fairly actually used as a mirror by the king.
After an hour of upwards strolling, you’ll attain the summit, the place not solely will you be greeted by expansive views over the gardens beneath and the encompassing, inexperienced forests, however you may discover the ruins of the palace.
There’s little left, because the ravages of time have precipitated a lot of the brickwork to crumble by way of the centuries, however you may nonetheless get pleasure from a way of the grand architectural designs and elaborate building work that allowed this place to be constructed atop the rock.
In fact, the one means again down is to stroll, however the best way again of the path is way simpler on the downhill.
Visiting the Pidurangala Temple
Pidurangala Temple is discovered only a mile away from Sigiriya. This temple is discovered on the base of a rock that’s equally as distinctive and dramatic as Sigiriya, nevertheless, it’s not practically as frequented by vacationers and one can find it to be a lot much less busy.
Though traditionally, it’s not as essential as its neighbor, this rock additionally provides unbelievable views over the encompassing space, and from its summit, you may really see Sigiriya within the distance.
This makes it a superb place to get a way of the dimensions and scale of this large, historic enterprise. To get right here, it’s advisable to take a tuk-tuk, because the stroll is sizzling and tiring.
The place to Keep Close to Sigiriya
When you can select to remain within the close by city of Dambulla, which acts because the regional transportation hub, it’s also possible to select to remain nearer to Sigiriya itself, as there are a number of lodges on the highway to the doorway itself.
Finances vacationers can be higher off staying in Dambulla after which both taking a tuk-tuk or public transport to the rock, however if you wish to splash out a little bit, then you may keep nearer, after which have the chance to move in even sooner than everybody else to expertise the rock with out the crowds.
Essentially the most well-known and spectacular resort possibility near the rock is the Resort Sigiriya, which is definitely positioned inside the boundaries of the UNESCO World Heritage Website and provides one of the best rooms and repair within the space.
Personally, we stayed on the Cinnamon Habarana Lodge and it was spectacular! They’ve an intensive and personal property that’s surrounded by nature. The rooms are large and the service is superb.
They will additionally prepare safaris in close by Kaudulla or Minneyira, relying on the season, in addition to visits to Dambulla and Polonnaruwa.
| Advisable Excursions | ||
| SRI LANKA ENCOMPASSED Colombo to Mirissa 14 days Small Group 12-15 Individuals |
DISCOVER SRI LANKA Colombo to Negombo 12 days Small Group 12-15 Individuals |
SRI LANKA LAND & SEA Negombo to Mirissa 14 Days Small Group 12-15 Individuals |
| Verify Worth | Verify Worth | Verify Worth |
Extra on Sri Lanka:
- Final Sri Lanka Itinerary: 2 Weeks to 4 Weeks
- The Most Spectacular Locations to Go to in Sri Lanka
- Greatest Sri Lanka Safari: 8 Park Comparability information
- 10 Epic Issues to do in Ella, Sri Lanka
- 9 Epic Causes to Go to Mirissa, Sri Lanka
- Safari Information to Kaudulla Nationwide Park
- Yala Nationwide Park Safari: Solely Information You Want
- Kumana Nationwide Park-The Solely Safari Information You Want
- 10 Sri Lanka Seashores You’d Be Silly to Miss
- 11 Epic Causes to Go to Arugam Bay (Spoiler: Epic Breaches!)
- Boogie Boarding in Sri Lanka
Did you want this story? Share it!
149 shares
- Share
- Tweet
- Pin
