Visit sigiriya to experience some cool things

One of the most famous images of Sri Lanka: Lion Rock in Sigiriya. This square rock rises from the jungle, a spectacular sight. Sigiriya, the city where the Lion Rock is located, has nowadays become a tourist town. In this travel guide, I will tell you more about Sigiriya and what you can do here.

Travel guide Sigiriya: more than just Lion Rock

Sigiriya is a small town in the northeast of Sri Lanka. It is about a two-hour drive from Kandy or Anuradhapura. The place itself does not represent much. There are some restaurants, souvenir shops and many hotels and guesthouses. The biggest attraction here is really Lion Rock. If you are in the centre, you can already see the rock, it towers high above the houses and trees.

How many days do you stay in Sigiriya?

If you have little time, one night is more than enough for Sigiriya. In the afternoon after arrival, you will climb the Pidurangula Rock for a great view of Lion Rock. The next morning, before you travel on, you can climb Lion Rock itself. However, if you have more time, we advise you to set aside an extra day for Sigiriya and the surrounding area.

Six awesome activities in Sigiriya

At first sight, there is not much to do in Sigiriya outside of Lion Rock. However, appearances are deceptive. Below you will find six fun activities for when you have a few days to spend in Sigiriya!

1. Climb Lion Rock (also called Sigiriya Rock)

In the middle of a beautiful botanical garden, surrounded by the jungle, the Lion Rock towers two hundred meters above all the greenery! In the fifth century AD, there was a palace on this huge rock. A palace with swimming pool, murals and even a carved lion. Nowadays you can view the remains of this palace on the rock. And of course, enjoy the view. At the bottom of the rock, you will find the royal garden, a beautiful garden.

The 1200 steps to the top are easy to do. However, what is less pleasant is the high price to climb this rock. Because it is one of the most popular activities in Sri Lanka, the entrance fee has been made very high (LKR 4500 or € 22.50 per person). Looking at Lion Rock from the distance is the most beautiful sight and we spoke to many people who found the climb of Lion Rock disappointing, we, therefore, decided to choose climbing Pidurangula Rock instead of Lion Rock (see the second activity).

2. Or climb Pidurangala Rock

The nearby Pidurangala Rock exactly overlooks Lion Rock. We climbed it during sunset and had a beautiful view of the famous rock and the surroundings of Sigiriya! The first part is easy to walk, only the last part is a bit of a scramble (so wear sneakers instead of slippers). In addition, the entrance fee to Pidurangala Rock is a lot lower. We paid LKR500 or € 2.50 per person!

The best view from Pidurangala Rock on Lion Rock is during sunrise or sunset. The temperature at that time is also pleasant enough to make this hike!

Tip: There is a temple at the foot of Pidurangala Rock. It is sacred territory and therefore you are expected to cover your knees and shoulders and take off your shoes during the first part of the hike. You can borrow a sarong for free at the entrance.

3. Relax during a wonderful massage

Want to relax after hiking or visiting a temple? Then book a massage at one of the spas around Sigiriya. One of the best spas in the Sigiriya area is Camellia Resort Spa. The prices are slightly higher here, but you will be well pampered very well here!