If you’ve seen photos of Sri Lanka, it is likely you have spied Sigiriya Rock Fortress jutting up, but it is not the only thing worth exploring in this scenic and uncrowded part of Sri Lanka.

First things first, how do you get to Sigiriya?

It’s a small, yet spread out, town without a train station or main bus stops so to get here by public transport, you will need to travel by bus to nearby Dambulla. From there it is an easy Tuk Tuk ride.

However, we found the easiest, and most comfortable, way was with a driver from Colombo for the three of us and our luggage. It was nice to have someone to point out things along the way and we also stopped to visit Dambulla Cave Temple before arriving in Sigiriya – right at our accommodation.

We stayed at 3-star Sigiriya Sunshine Villa and it was lovely and there are so many similar options around the place. I do recommend getting somewhere with a pool though – the days were 35-degrees.

On arrival, it is impossible to miss the towering 200m rock jutting up from a mainly flat landscape, but it wasn’t our first stop!

We decided to head up a nearby rock for sunset to give us a panoramic view of Lion Rock (Sigiriya Rock Fortress).

Pidurangala Rock

Pidurangala Rock is a nearby hike (about a kilometre from the ‘town’) that is definitely a popular option for good views. Note that there is a small entrance fee here, but much cheaper than Lion Rock itself.

Before you ascend the hike itself, you have to walk through Pidurangala sacred site, so modest clothing is required - shoulders and knees must be covered. Free sarongs are provided that you can use as you walk through this section, which is great because in October, this was a warm hike.

To make it to the top is around a 30-45 minute hike which is good to keep in mind if you want to time your arrival with sunrise or sunset. We packed some head torches for the trip down.

The path to the top is well maintained up until you reach the Pidurangala Cave Temple where there is a reclining Buddha. After the cave temple, it becomes more of a scramble and you must find your own path to the top over some large rocks and boulders. At certain points you will have to give way to those making their way down as there is only room for one person at a time.

At the top, you can wander around for 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside and an amazing view of Sigiriya Rock.

While there was no amazing sunset for us due to low-lying clouds, we still had an incredible view and spent at least half an hour at the top before making our way back down.

Sigiriya Lion Rock

After a relaxing afternoon, we got up early (before sunrise) the next morning to head up the iconic Lion Rock. We were hoping for sunrise but we also wanted to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

It costs US$35 for foreigners to enter Sigiriya which isn’t cheap, but it really is a beautiful place to visit.

Sigiriya Fortress is not a temple or a sacred place, so you don’t have to cover your shoulders and knees for this walk.

This incredible site is where King Kassapa I (477-495 CE) built his fortress-palace and definitely worthy it’s UNESCO World Heritage status.

You pass through some of the landscaped royal gardens as you walk towards the giant rock, impressive even in the misty early morning light.

The first set of steps through the rocks will take you up to the famous lion paw staircase, which is how the Lion Rock Fortress got its name.

From there, staring up at the narrow metal staircase seems daunting but there are places to rest along the way – even if the stairs seem to be precariously nailed into the side of the rock.

At the top, you can wander around exploring the ruins of the fortified palace and enjoying different vantage points along with some monkey spotting.

The views from the summit are breathtaking – especially once the clouds clear!

Kaudulla National Park

On the advice of our driver (shoutout to Amila who also runs guided tours), we also made a spontaneous trip to nearby Kaudulla National Park.

We just booked an afternoon trip through our accommodation and didn’t regret it for a second.

This park is known for massive seasonal elephant gatherings around the ancient Kaudulla Reservoir, making it a prime spot for safaris, especially August to December. It is one of 10 parks in Sri Lanka where elephants roam freely.

Within minutes of us entering the park, we spied our first elephants in the distance, hiding in the brush.

Not long after that we saw a herd swimming, washing and playing in the water. We weren’t close but it was awe-inspiring to see.

We spent several hours admiring these guys at a respectful distance before making our way out of the park, passing bird and Langur monkeys too.

On our drive back to Sigiriya, we passed several elephants on the side of the road… I guess they don’t know where the national park boundaries are!

In our spare time in Sigiriya in the heat of the day, we lazed by our accommodation pool and found cute spots to eat – some of which like Sigiriya Lion Face have incredible views of the iconic rock while you enjoy your food.

Getting around was easy despite the town being so spread out, booking Tuk Tuks through our hotel was a breeze.

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Dec 22 Sigiriya, Sri Lanka: Come for the views, stay for the vibe

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