7 Things To Do in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

A walk through terraced gardens leads to a stairway that leads to a perspective over the Island's expanse as seen through the eyes of a king. The stunning Sigiriya Rock Fortress, revered as the world's eighth wonder, is a massive sight that takes every visitor's breath away as one of the top sites to visit in Sigiriya. This magnificent stronghold is located in the center of the Island, between Dambulla and Habarana, on top of a massive 180-meter-high rock.

Photo by Daniele Franchi on Unsplash

Sigiriya, the smallest but most impressive of all medieval capitals, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is Sri Lanka's most spectacular destination due to its beautiful construction and surrounding landscapes. It was designed in the shape of a lion, with visible feet and paws today. Regrettably, the upper body parts were damaged. Sigiriya got its name from the Sinhala term Sihagiri, which means Lion Rock. The summit of Sigiriya has almost 1200 stairs and takes about 2 hours to climb. 

The fortress complex includes ruins of a ruined palace surrounded by an extensive network of fortifications, terraced gardens, ponds, and fountains, and upon ascending the stone stairwell to the top, you will come across the Mirror Wall and the famous rock paintings – frescoes that have brought Sigiriya worldwide renown.

1. Sigiriya Rock Fortress

Sigiriya Rock, also named the Lion Rock, is an old rock fortress in central Sri Lanka's Matale District. It features a castle, the palace remains, the Lion Gate, gardens, moats, the Mirror Wall, and numerous exquisite frescoes (painted in wet plaster on walls). The Lion claws etched at the entrance to the Lion's Gate inspired the name. You can reach the Sigiriya Fortress by bus or train from the main towns of Dambulla or Habarane.

2. Pidurangala Rock

Pidurangala, at 500m above sea level, is the Lion Rock's lesser-known neighbor, but it, too, has an intriguing past. When King Kasyapa built his Sigiriya fortification in the fifth century CE, he faced a quandary. For ages, the rock served as a monastery, with monks residing in the numerous caverns.

The trek to Pidurangala's peak is more challenging than Sigiriya's. Still, it's also well worth the effort because it's a treasure trove of flora, animals, and ancient artifacts.

3. Sigiriya Museum

The Sigiriya Archaeological Museum is located in the same building as the Sigiriya Rock ticket office. Once you've paid your $30 entrance fee, you'll also be able to enter the museum. It contains more information about the Sigiriya kingdom and the Lion Rock Fortress and ruins discovered nearby.

4. Minneriya National Park

The Minneriya National Park is located in Sri Lanka's northern district, four hours from Colombo and 30 minutes from Sigiriya. The national park is well-known for its herds of elephants moving for food, water, and shelter, forming a 'gathering' that visitors can watch. The dry season is ideal for visiting this location since the beautiful elephants travel to the Minneriya Tank for water. Aside from elephants, the national park is home to various animals, birds, reptiles, and plant species.

5. Hot Air Balloon Rides

Sigiriya is surrounded by dense vegetation, so you won't be short on lovely scenery when floating high on a hot air balloon. The serene environment is pleasing to the emotions, and the eyes as herds of elephants and buffalo roam the plains.

Hot Air Ballooning hasn't been a popular choice in Sri Lanka for long, just genuinely taking off in recent years. However, it's still gaining popularity as it gives riders a bird's eye perspective of Sigiriya like no other. A photo from up there would undoubtedly be worth a thousand words.

6. Bird Watching in Sigiriya

Whether you are a birder or want to see birds in their natural habitat, Sigiriya is an excellent place for bird-watching. With its dense canopies and forests, this is a birder's paradise. Sigiriya is bordered by massive man-made tanks, which has resulted in a large number of migratory and endemic species visiting the area.

The area, which was recently recognized as a Bird Sanctuary, has 5,099 hectares of woodland, water bodies surrounding the Sigiriya rock, and roads leading to the Pidurangala rock. Raptors such as the Shaheen Falcon, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Grey Headed Fish Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, and Crested Hawk Eagle can be found here, as well as over 65 species of endemic, habitant, and migratory birds, both familiar and rare.

7. Kaudulla National Park

The Kaudulla National Park, located in the Polonnaruwa district, is about 197 kilometers from Colombo. Kaudulla National Park is one of the designated Important Bird Areas, with the possibility to see a variety of other wildlife. It covers 6900 hectares of dry evergreen forest and is located in the country's dry zone.

The park's ecology is dry, mainly evergreen forest, with traditional shifting crop cultivations (irrigated from the tank) and grasslands surrounding the tank. This allows for excellent visibility for both animal observation and photography. The park is home to 24 animal species, 25 reptile species, 26 fish species, and 160 bird species.