If you plan to travel through Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is absolutely an area worth checking out. It's full of history, great hikes, wildlife, and beautiful scenery! In this post I will share with you the top attractions of Sigiriya, Dambulla, and Polonnaruwa. Theses are towns all nearby one another and about a 3 hours bus ride North from Kandy.
I chose to stay in Sigiriya because it is in between Dambulla and Polonnaruwa and take day trips by bus to the other towns. When I was there it was early April and the weather is HOT, so be prepared! During the day it reached 102 degrees Fahrenheit so be sure to pack sunblock, sunglasses, a hat, and lots of water to stay hydrated!
What to do in Sigiriya:
Hike Pidurangala Rock for Sunrise
You may have heard of Sigiriya Rock before (otherwise known as Lions Rock), it is the top attraction while visiting Sri Lanka. People tend to either hike Lions Rock or hike Pidurangala Rock, or you can totally do both! I personally decided to climb Pidurangala because I wanted to view and take photographs of the Lions Rock not actually be on it. Whichever you decide on I definitely recommend doing this hike early in the morning for the sunrise. Not only because it's beautiful to watch the world come alive, the sky light up, and all the birds and wildlife awaken, but also because during the day the temperature gets extremely hot, so hiking can definitely be difficult in those conditions!
Pidurangala Rock takes around 30 minutes to hike to the top. It is a moderate level hike until the end, then for the last 5-10 minutes it gets much more steep and narrow. I found it best to go while it was still dark so the temperature was cool and I was at the top by the time the sun started to rise. It's an amazing experience to watch as the world wakes up.
At the beginning of this hike you walk through a temple so definitely bring a sarong or be sure your clothing is covering your shoulders and legs. They also offer a sarong for sale at the entrance if you forget!
Pidurangala Rock entrance costs: $3.00
Sigiriya Rock entrance costs: $30.00
View the Cobra Head temple
Right nearby Pidurangala Rock you can stop and view the Cobra Head temple, it has a beautiful Buddha statue to view.
*Tip: If you take photos in front of a Buddha statue, your back cannot be facing Buddha.
Take a boat ride on a Lotus flower lake
This is by far the most magical thing to do in Sigiriya. Ask your tuktuk driver to take you to Hiriwadunna Lake for a boat ride. It definitely is not a popular tourist attraction because there was not a single other tourist in sight, just a few of the locals. This lake is completely covered in beautiful lotus flowers, unique birds, and it kind of felt like I was in a savanna, it was so different from the rest of Sri Lanka. The guide paddled us around the lake as we took in the serene surroundings. Our guide was lovely, he stopped and made lily pad hats for us to wear to block the sun, he took one of the lotus flowers and made me a necklace out of it and took another to turn into a rose to carry. This was a wonderful experience that I cannot recommend enough. You also have a view of Sigiriya Rock from the lake!
Be sure to kindly tip your guide and to say no to the cattle ride in the beginning!
Visit Minneriya National Park
If you want to see elephants and other wildlife I recommend Minneriya National Park. I do NOT recommend visiting an elephant orphanage as they do not treat their elephants well. Also, you may see offers to ride elephants in the streets of Dambulla but that is also NOT ethical. The best way to view them is by visiting a national park. You take a jeep ride through the park where they have acres and acres to roam around freely. I have heard some of the national parks in the country that offer jeep rides chase the elephants so tourists can have good photos but I did not find that with this specific one.
You can view elephants, deer, peacocks, all sorts of birds, and so much more wildlife during this experience!
Tour the ancient city of Polonnaruwa
Polonnaruwa is an ancient city that still has remains and loads of incredible sights to view. The best way to get around is to rent a bike and view each sight that way you can go at your own pace. Another way to get around is to have a tuktuk driver bring you around and explain what you are viewing. You may also here of another place called Annadupura, this is another ancient city that you can view. If you want to choose only one I recommend going with Polonnaruwa, I found the remains are more in tact and there is more to view. There is also a museum at the start that you can walk through.
Dambulla Farmers Market
The town of Dambulla has a large farmers market where you can find loads of fresh fruits and veggies for sale. It's a great place to walk around and stock up on your produce!
Where to stay in Sigiriya:
1 More Night Hostel
If you are taking the hostel route 1 More Night Hostel is the place to stay! It's a small but lovely hostel with a great hangout area to meet other travelers, walking distance from the town where you can find restaurants, they offer breakfast, and helpful kind service!
Hotel Sigiriya
If you would like a luxurious stay, Hotel Sigiriya is the way to go! The hotel is located in a great spot near all of Sigiriya's attractions. The accommodation is beautiful, the food is delicious, the service is excellent, and the pool has an amazing view of Sigiriya Rock!
Sigiriya is full of intriguing history, gorgeous sights and unforgettable memories! Do you have any other MUST SEE sights in Sigiriya? Let me know in the comments?
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Wow! The coolest place so far, I think! Sigiriya rock is beautiful. I would love to go and see the lotus flowers and visit the ruins! What an adventure