Joanna James
Did you know that the 08th World Wonder is in Sri Lanka? Built back in the 05th century by a local king, Sigiriya (the Lion Rock) is often referred to as the eighth World Wonder. This rock is over 200m tall, and once you climb all the stairs and reach the summit, the sights you get to enjoy are truly breathtaking. Sigiriya does not only hold a cultural value but also a historical value, that you should explore.
How to plan your tour to Sigiriya? Take this article as your guide.
Many travellers plan their Sigiriya tour based on where they stay. For someone who stays at a nearby hotel such as Cinnamon Lodge Habarana, coming to Sigiriya is very easy and it won't take much time. These travellers also cover the Dambulla cave temple and Pidurangala rock (located close by) in the same go.
Even if it's from Dambulla, Kandy, Jaffna or Colombo, busses are available to take you from where you are to Sigiriya town. If you plan to come to Sigiriya after exploring the Dambulla Cave Temple, you may simply take a tuk-tuk and that's as easy as that.
This area is great during the dry season which falls from December to April. Exploring Sigiriya during the other season (rainy season) is not so recommended because it can get slippery (sometimes) and the visibilities when you go up in the rock may not be clear and precise.
About the timing- If you want to beat the heat, visit Sigiriya early in the morning or late in the evening. The heat in the noon and afternoon can sometimes be hard to bear, so take this tip as a piece of advice.
As you must be aware, this is a ticketed experience. The ticket counter opens at 7.00 in the morning, and it issues tickets until 5.00 in the evening. Adult tickets are priced at a different rate while the kids' tickets have another rate.
You surely have many things to do in Sigiriya, so these activities take time. There are 1000+ steps for you to climb, so if you have a good fitness level, you can finish this climb within 1 hour.
However, as mentioned above, there is a lot to see and explore in detail. Therefore, it's best to allocate at least 3 hours for this whole experience.
The Royal Gardens in Sigiriya is a must-explore. The Water Gardens, the Boulder Gardens and Sigiriya Frescoes are some of the most precious things you get to explore when you are there and do not forget to know in detail the historical stories behind these wonderful creations. Other attractions include the Mirror Wall and the Lion Paw Staircase.
During your visit, please do not forget to explore the Sigiriya Museum as well. This experience is also included in your ticket, so don't miss out on this. You get to explore a massive 3D model of the Lion Rock here, and hundreds of photos that reveal the greatness of this attraction.
Take a water bottle when you visit Sigiriya. Take your sunscreen, a hat and your sunglasses too. If you are afraid of heights, don't worry- ask someone to be your assistant throughout the exploration. You will get rid of this fear after a while. The climb is not so challenging. However, if you are not sure of your fitness level, it's not recommended to try out this experience. A reasonable fitness level will be required because, after all, a climb of 1000+ stairs is not an easy job for anyone.
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 passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
