Joanna James
Sigirya is most famous for Sigiriya Rock – which is often considered as the 8th wonder of the world. There are many more sites to see and experiences to be had in the area, however.
A single giant rock nearly 400m high is set in the middle of an extremely flat plain. On top of this box-shaped rock are the ruins of a palace said to have belonged to an ancient king of the island name 'Kashyapa'. There is a metal staircase that has been placed by the local authorities to make the climb possible however it is not an easy climb – which makes you wonder how on earth these ancient people built the palace on the top complete with fountains that still have water to this day and never dry up. It is quite a baffling mystery – but that aside the view from the top is simply panoramic and well worth the climb. From the top, you can truly appreciate the planning of the ancient gardens and waterways that adorned the area below the rock. If you're in Sri Lanka you definitely need to visit Sigiriya
Pidurangala is another very oddly shaped rock right next to Sigiriya – though not as famous as its counterpart, it offers a great view of the surrounding area. Many visitors prefer to climb Sigiriya early in the morning and climb Pidurangala in the evening to catch the sunset.
This nature reserve was built around the reservoir of the same name to protect its watershed. The park is maybe an hour or so from Sigiriya but definitely worth a visit if you want to see some elephants. During September and October, nearly 300 elephants gather by the shore of the reservoir. There are leopards and sloth bears in Minneriya however they aren't as easy to spot and you'd be quite lucky if you actually saw one.
Kaudulla National Park is located only a half an hour away from Minneriya and it has its own reservoir which it was built around. Kaudulla is also best known for its large population of elephants though quite a few visitors come here to bird watch as well.
The area around Sigiriya is beautiful and quite untamed but there are some amazing trails to cycling along. It's a great way to see the local people and culture and maybe try some of the local fruits. It might be hard to find an independent venture that rents bicycle however if you're staying at a place like Sigiriya Jungles which is one of the best hotels in Sigiriya you should easily be able to rent one from them or have the staff there help you to make arrangements.
There is no better way to see the world than from the sky – so definitely try this out. The hot air balloon season in Sri Lanka is from November to April and there are a few companies that operate early morning flights. Watching the sunrise over the forest canopy is simply breathtaking.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a pas...
