7 Issues To Do In Sigiriya Sri Lanka

There are lots of issues to do in Sigiriya Sri Lanka – this is among the hottest vacationer locations within the nation. Most individuals journey right here to go to the well-known Rock of Sigiriya, however if you happen to give it sufficient time you’ll uncover a phenomenal area, with lush nature and hidden gems that each one deserved to be explored.

On this publish, I spotlight all of the unmissable issues to do in Sigiriya and share some sensible info to prepare your go to.

7 Nice Issues To Do In Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

Climb Sigiriya Rock 

One of many high issues to do in Sigiriya is climbing/climbing the enormous Sigiriya Rock. Upon seeing it, you’ll utterly perceive why this can be a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. It’s merely distinctive! In case you determine to see simply one in every of all the traditional cities and holy websites, make it this one.

Why is Sigiriya so particular? It is a huge column of rock, round 200 meters tall, the place a fortress was constructed proper on high. Frescoes have been painted across the fortress, in addition to an enormous mirror wall – although this truly is “simply” a extremely polished rock the place apparently the sort may see his mirrored picture any time he walked by.

The Rock is positioned on the middle of a phenomenal backyard which may be very nice to go to, and from the place you’ll be able to attain the lion staircase that goes all the way in which up the fortress.

TIP: I wholeheartedly advocate hiring a information or becoming a member of a guided tour to go to Sigiriya, so that you could make sense of all there’s to see and get helpful info that can assist you to put every thing in context.

These are some good guided excursions:

Sensible info for visiting Sigiriya Rock

Opening hours

The positioning is open day by day from 7:00 AM to five:30 PM.

Value

It prices $30 USD to enter. The worth features a ticket to go to Sigiriya Museum.

Greatest time to go to

The most effective time to go to is within the early morning, earlier than the warmth turns into insufferable and to decrease the possibilities of being caught by the rain which can inevitably begin dropping round noon (I solely know too nicely!). Or else, attempt to go within the late afternoon, round 4:00 PM when it’s a bit cooler.

Climbing the rock

It takes round one hour to climb Sigiriya Rock, longer if you happen to cease alongside the way in which. Climbing shouldn’t be exhausting – it’s only a collection of steps. It might take you longer when it’s crowded, as a line will inevitably type and this may transfer way more slowly.

Climb Pidurangala 

Proper in entrance of Sigiriya, Pidurangala is a smaller, much less visited. and considerably cheaper website to go to (it prices lower than $3 USD to get in). If the views from Sigiriya are lovely, those from Pidurangala are breathtaking to say the least, particularly if you happen to can see Sigiriya from up there. Be certain to climb in time for sundown for a wonderful expertise.

To be utterly trustworthy, very similar to different off-the-beaten-path websites of Sri Lanka, Pidurangala is definitely far more fascinating than its mainstream equal. When you have restricted time and in case you are touring on a smaller price range, simply go straight to Pidurangala.

TIP: Whereas there are stairs main as much as Sigiriya, the trail that results in Pidurangala is far rougher and I like to recommend carrying a pair of excellent sneakers to stroll up there. You may additionally want a jacket because it will get very windy within the late afternoon.

You possibly can go to Dambulla on a day journey from Sigiriya

Go on a day journey to Dambulla Cave Temple

Dambulla cave complicated and the Golden Temple have been declared UNESCO World Heritage websites and are a spot of pilgrimage. They’re very nicely preserved – in reality, one of many best-preserved cave temples in Sri Lanka. Since they’re positioned at only a 20-minute drive, visiting is among the issues to do in Sigiriya.

In actual fact, relying on the place you might be coming from, you’ll be able to go to en route in your solution to Sigiriya Sri Lanka, as I did – I simply left my luggage in storage within the bookstore by the principle gate.

I need to admit it that Dambulla was hardly my favourite place of all those I visited in Sri Lanka, and located the $10 USD entry price a bit overpriced, however I suppose that in case you are within the space, you need to go to. I like to recommend truly hiring a information to make a bit extra sense of what there’s to see – I feel that’s the error I made, truly!

You possibly can e book your tour of Dambulla (together with a go to to Sigiriya) right here.

A day journey to Polannaruwa is among the issues to do in Sigiriya

And on one to Polannaruwa 

Polannaruwa is among the nicest websites to go to in Sri Lanka. It’s a beautiful place to spend a number of hours exploring the location – one other UNESCO World Heritage Web site, in reality! This was once the royal capital of the Sinhalese and Chola kingdoms, a bustling business middle, and a spiritual website round 800 years in the past, and these days you’ll be able to see what’s left of its splendor within the many ruins of temples and non secular buildings.

The positioning is about one hour drive from Sigiriya, so a straightforward day journey. The entry price is $25 USD, however contemplating that it’s a lot better to truly have a information to take you round, I like to recommend becoming a member of a guided tour.

You possibly can go on a day journey to Anuradhapura

Go to Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is definitely just a little bit farther from Sigiriya in comparison with Polannaruwa and Dambulla, however it may well nonetheless be seen on a day journey. It’s an attention-grabbing website to go to, with numerous temples and ruins, and locals are sometimes noticed praying.

You possibly can go to independently if you happen to go there by bus after which hire a motorbike, however I truthfully advocate a guided tour or at the very least rent a information as soon as there to keep away from getting misplaced (the location is definitely very huge) and to make a bit extra sense of what you might be seeing.

Go to Minneriya Nationwide Park  

Minneriya Nationwide Park is the location of the biggest Asian elephant gathering that happens yearly between July and September. Chances are you’ll not go to Sri Lanka at the moment of yr, however if you wish to see elephants in all their glory, one of many issues to do in Sigiriya Sri Lanka, is visiting Minneriya. It’s at lower than half-hour drive, and also you’ll be capable of see lots of them, in addition to numerous different wildlife (particularly birds).

When you get to the park, it’s a must to rent a jeep to take you round. I wholeheartedly advocate performing some analysis beforehand to rent a accountable firm, as too many are sadly recognized for driving recklessly round nationwide parks or getting too near the elephants inflicting them discomfort.

Conventional Village in Sri Lanka

Go to Sigiriya Village

Villages in Sri Lanka are often very rural, however persons are so welcoming and the tradition so attention-grabbing that it’s good to go to a few of them. One of many issues to do in Sigiriya is exploring the village. In case you handle to rearrange a information you’ll have greater possibilities of conversing with the locals, who at instances communicate little to no English. In some instances, for a small price, you’ll be able to even have lunch with a neighborhood household.

Sensible Data To Arrange Your Journey

The place to remain in Sigiriya Sri Lanka 

You gained’t actually discover many good locations to remain in Sigiriya village, however the environment have some glorious lodging choices with boutique motels, resorts, and a few unbelievable eco-lodges the place you’ll be able to utterly immerse your self in nature and disconnect from the remainder of the world. Image locations with lush vegetation, no wifi or cellphone reception, good meals, animals roaming about, and simply the correct quantity of pampering.

It is a number of glorious locations to remain in Sigiriya: 

• • Again of Past Dehigaha Ela is a unbelievable eco-lodge the place lovely, comfy rooms are constructed on bushes or round boulders. It’s utterly immersed in nature and runs in a sustainable approach.

• • Aliya Resort and Spa is a wonderful resort at about 5 km from the location, that includes lovely rooms and an impressive outside pool.

Since lots of people go to Sigiriya from Dambulla, I assumed I’d additionally choose a number of good locations to remain in Dambulla:

• • Dambulla Rock Arch is a pleasant resort near the middle of Dambulla. All rooms have a balcony.

• • Jetwing Lake is a unbelievable luxurious resort a bit exterior Dambulla, the place you’ll be totally pampered.
    

    Jetwing Lake Sri Lanka

The right way to get to Sigiriya 

Sigiriya is barely a small village so the one buses you’ll discover will probably be these to Dambulla, which is well-connected to Kandy, Jaffna. and Trincomalee.

There are direct buses to Sigiriya from Dambulla that run between 6:30 AM and 6:00 PM. The bus experience may be very low-cost and will take you round half-hour. The bus will drop you off on the principle avenue and from there you’ll should take a tuk-tuk or stroll to your lodging.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to take a tuk-tuk instantly at Dambulla – the experience ought to price you round 1000 rupees, relying on the place you requested to be dropped off. Be certain to cut price the costs and triple-check that the motive force truly is aware of the place to take you. Oftentimes, tuk-tuk drivers are very eager on providing you a experience however they don’t truly know the deal with of your resort and chances are you’ll be caught for some time earlier than they discover the way in which there!

The right way to transfer round Sigiriya

Likelihood is you can be staying in one of many many marvelous motels round Sigiriya slightly than within the village itself, which doesn’t have a lot to supply. If so, you’ll have to depend on the transportation supplied by the resort within the type of tuk-tuk or non-public automotive providers to take you round to the perfect locations to go to.

When to go to Sigiriya Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons, and you may break your head making an attempt to plan your journey to keep away from them however to make a protracted story quick you gained’t be capable of. December to March are good months to go, with greater possibilities of dry climate and solar, however the different facet of the coin is that locations could also be extra crowded and costs greater than you had hoped for.

Having mentioned that, simply go forward and do your greatest making an attempt to keep away from the rain, however by all means, go. In any case, take into account that it often begins raining within the early afternoon round 12:00 or 1:00 PM, so if you happen to plan to depart early within the morning on your visits, you can be achieved when it begins raining!

Different helpful info 

Please beware that you just want a visa to enter Sri Lanka. You possibly can simply apply on your visa on-line right here.

As for every other journey, I like to recommend additionally getting good journey insurance coverage. Get yours right here.

Take a look at my publish “Why You Want Good Journey Insurance coverage.”

Additional Readings

Be certain to learn my different posts about Sri Lanka