Top Tourist Places to Visit in Sigiriya - Around Sigiriya from Sunrise to Sunset

Standing formidable and proud in the center of Sigiriya is the remains of an ancient citadel made of carved natural rock. This migmatite plateau, also named Lion Rock Fortress, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of renowned historical value and significant geological importance for the distinctive appearance of this metamorphic rock. This stunning natural structure was home to ancient monasteries and was later made into a secure fortress by King Kashyapa of Anuradhapura in 477 CE. The citadel is divided into three sections, with the higher rock housing the relics of the palace. The Lion Rock serves as the doorway to the inner citadel, with the Lion Gate, Mirror Walls, and Frescoes located in the mid-region. The lower half includes vast areas of centuries-old groomed gardens, featuring water gardens, cave and rock gardens, and tiered garden spaces. The lily pad-covered moats, ponds, and antique fountains lay directly beneath the 'Lion Rock'.

Also known as the Sister Rock of Sigiriya because the two rocks are only a few kilometers apart, with impressive views of the surrounding forests, lakes, mountains, and, of course, Sigiriya Rock. It is a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset! The Pidurangala Rock also features the Pidurangala Vihara at the base of the rock. The temple has a few exquisite thousand-year-old frescoes similar to those at Sigiriya Rock. A 48-foot-long reclining Buddha statue constructed of clay, brick, and limestone can be seen under an ancient boulder around halfway through the trek. The rock also has the ruins of a subterranean temple complex, as well as Brahmi writings engraved into it.The trek to the summit of Pidurangala Rock is moderately challenging and lasts around one hour.

The park has an area of 89 square kilometres and is rich in scrubs, woodlands, and wetlands. Minneriya is home to 24 mammals, 160 birds, 34 amphibians and reptiles, and 75 species of butterflies. The best way to experience the park is on a jeep safari and be mesmerized by witnessing the largest gathering of wild elephants in Asia. Aside from elephants, visitors can see leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, wild buffalo, wild boar, purple-faced langur, toque macaques, and a variety of colourful birds.

This dry evergreen forest has an area of 6656 hectares and is home to 75 species of mammals, reptiles and fish, as well as 160 species of birds. Kaudulla's elephants are the National Park's major attraction. In addition to elephants, the park is home to a variety of wildlife, such as Sri Lankan sambar deer, chevrotain, wild boar, Sri Lankan leopard, and sloth bear. A mere 30-minute drive away from Ayurvie Sigiriya​​​​​​ these national park visits are ranked as favourites among Things to do near Sigiriya. Kaudulla is also a sanctuary for birders, with a large number of resident and migratory birds, including the Spot-billed Pelican, Lesser Adjutant, Asian Spoonbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Black-headed Ibis, Painted Stork, Asian Openbill Stork, Peacock, and Eagles, all typical sights in the park. Hundreds of pelicans flock at the Kaudulla tank after sunset, and it is one of the park's most magnificent scenes! You may also encounter freshwater turtles, Indian Flap-shelled Turtle, and Indian Black Turtle here.

Also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla, has been a cherished pilgrimage site for 22 centuries and is one of the island's five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This extensive cave temple complex is the best preserved and largest in the country. The monastery consists of five main sanctuaries, each featuring statues of Lord Buddha, kings, and Lord Vishnu, as well as rock paintings.  Dambulla, along with Sigiriya and Kandy, forms the 'Cultural Triangle' of Sri Lanka. The monastic ensemble of Dambulla is an outstanding example of the religious art and expression of Sri Lanka and South and Southeast Asia. The cave shrine, its mural-adorned surfaces, and its statuary are unique in scale and degree of preservation. The monastery includes significant masterpieces of 18th-century art. Dambulla is an important shrine in the Buddhist religion in Sri Lanka, remarkable for its association with the long-standing and widespread tradition of living Buddhist ritual practices and pilgrimage for more than two millennia.