Sigiriya
සීගිරිය
Royal palace ruins built in the 5th century atop a 200-meter rock, featuring the Lion Paw Gate, the Heavenly Maidens frescoes, and remnants of hilltop gardens. It is Sri Lanka’s most famous World Heritage Site.
Sigiriya is a granite rock rising about 200 meters from the plain, north of Dambulla at the heart of the Cultural Triangle. From 477 to 495 CE, King Kashyapa I built a capital and palace on its summit, and it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1982. The visit begins on the west side with the water gardens and boulder garden, then climbs halfway up to the “Mirror Wall” and the Heavenly Maidens frescoes in rock recesses. About 20 paintings survive, and photography is prohibited there. Next is the massive Lion Paw Gate on the platform on the north side. It was originally a whole lion sculpture, and only two paws survive. Finally, iron stairs lead to the summit, where you can see the palace foundations, the throne, and the pools, with views over the forested plain. Admission for foreigners is USD 35 (about CNY 250, museum included). It is open 07:00 to 17:30, with last entry at 17:00. The climb has more than 1,200 steps and takes 2.5 to 3 hours round trip. Go up at opening time, at 07:00, because after 10:00 the sun is strong and queues form on the steps. April in the dry season is the hottest month. Across from the rock, Pidurangala Rock (LKR 1,000 entry) offers a full view of Sigiriya and is a good alternative for sunrise. Note that there are wild bees on the summit. If you encounter a swarm, stay quiet and retreat slowly. Bring plenty of water and a hat. A tuk-tuk from Dambulla takes about 30 minutes, and a hired car from Kandy takes about 2.5 hours.
Opening hours
07:00–17:30
Nearby sights
- Sigiriya Museum
- Pidurangala Rock
- Habarana Village Tour (Hiriwadunna)
- Minneriya National Park
- Dambulla Cave Temple
- Ritigala Forest Monastery
- Namal Uyana
- Ancient City of Polonnaruwa