Fortress of Sigiriya
Sigiriya (also known as “Lion Rock”) is an ancient rock fortress and one of Sri Lanka’s most famous and impressive sights. Even the walk from the entrance toward the rock is striking: a long, straight path leads you directly toward the massive monolith, which rises almost 200 meters out of the flat surrounding landscape in an almost surreal way.
The complex dates back to the 5th century and once served as the royal residence of King Kashyapa. He had the walls decorated with frescoes and built an impressive palace on the summit plateau of the rock, which could only be accessed through the mouth of a gigantic stone lion. Today, only the massive stone paws remain. The symmetrically laid-out water gardens at the foot of the rock, as well as the famous Sigiriya frescoes, have also been preserved.
After purchasing our tickets on site for USD 35 (around EUR 30), we began the climb via numerous staircases. From below, the ascent looks steeper than it actually feels. With enough water and a few short breaks, it’s very manageable. Since there is hardly any shade on the rock, it’s generally recommended to visit early in the morning (the ticket office opens at 5 a.m.) or late in the afternoon; especially because of the heat. We first needed some time to recover from our flight to Sri Lanka and therefore didn’t head up until around midday. For us, it wasn’t too hot, and we probably encountered comparatively few other visitors as a result.
Once at the top, we were rewarded with a fascinating view over the surrounding lush green landscape of jungle, lakes, and scattered rock formations. But beyond the view, it was the history that impressed me most: the fact that an entire palace complex existed on and within this rock more than 1,500 years ago is truly hard to comprehend.
Pidurangala Rock
Visiting Pidurangala Rock is significantly cheaper and (at least for me) even more impressive. The short hike up takes about 20–30 minutes and is easy to manage, even without special fitness. Only the final stretch gets a bit more adventurous, as you have to climb over a few larger boulders.
Part of the trail leads through a small temple complex, where you’re required to cover your shoulders and knees. You can borrow cloths at the entrance and take them off again once you leave the temple area — which is definitely more practical once the climbing begins! Along the way, you’ll pass a reclining Buddha statue and enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding greenery.
At the top, you’re rewarded with a spectacular view of Sigiriya across the way. Especially at sunset, the atmosphere becomes magical as the light softens and the rock slowly glows in warm colors. We simply sat there, talked, took photos, and wandered around the plateau a bit. Personally, I found this view even more beautiful than the one from Sigiriya itself, because here you see the iconic rock in its full size right in front of you. Just keep an eye out for the small monkeys roaming around up there. They might try to steal from you.
The descent in the dark turned into another little adventure. Carefully making our way back down over the rocks — with lots of laughter — we eventually headed back by tuk-tuk, which is always an experience in itself. We definitely had plenty of fun along the way.
Town & Surrounding
Sigiriya selbst ist ein kleiner, überschaubarer Ort. Neben den beiden Felsen spielt sich das Leben vor allem rund um die Hauptstraße ab. Dort findest du einige süße, kleine Cafés, Restaurants und Guesthouses. Perfekt für entspanntes Café-Hopping. Oder um sich mit einem Buch an den nahegelegenen See zu setzen und einfach die Natur zu genießen. Gerade nach dem Aufstieg auf einen der Felsen tut diese ruhige Atmosphäre richtig gut.
Wenn du etwas mehr Zeit mitbringst, gibt es in der Umgebung jedoch noch einige spannende Ausflugsziele. Wir hatten dafür leider keine Zeit, ich möchte sie dir dennoch kurz vorstellen:
Der Minneriya National Park liegt nur eine kurze Fahrt entfernt und ist besonders für seine Elefantenpopulation bekannt. Während der sogenannten „Gathering“-Saison (meist zwischen Juli und Oktober) versammeln sich dort teilweise hunderte Elefanten an den Wasserstellen – ein beeindruckendes Naturschauspiel. Im Vergleich zum weiter südlich gelegenen 1 gilt Minneriya als etwas weniger touristisch, wobei das natürlich saisonabhängig ist.
Ebenfalls gut erreichbar ist der Dambulla-Höhlentempel (Golden Temple of Dambulla). Die Tempelanlage gehört zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe und besteht aus mehreren Höhlen, die mit Buddha-Statuen und farbenfrohen Wandmalereien geschmückt sind. Allein die Lage auf einem Felsen macht den Besuch schon besonders eindrucksvoll.
Etwas weiter entfernt befindet sich zudem die Avukana Buddha Statue – eine über 12 Meter hohe, freistehende Buddha-Statue aus dem 5. Jahrhundert. Auch wenn wir es zeitlich nicht mehr dorthin geschafft haben, ist sie ein weiteres Beispiel für die beeindruckende Geschichte dieser Region.
Sigiriya eignet sich also nicht nur als Stopp für die beiden Felsen, sondern auch wunderbar als Ausgangspunkt, um das kulturelle Herz Sri Lankas ein Stück besser kennenzulernen.
Sigiriya itself is a small, easy-to-navigate town. Aside from the two famous rocks, most of the action takes place along the main road. Here you’ll find a few cute little cafés, restaurants, and guesthouses — perfect for relaxed café hopping. Or for sitting by the nearby lake with a book and simply enjoying nature. Especially after climbing one of the rocks, this calm atmosphere feels incredibly refreshing.
If you have more time, there are several interesting day trips in the surrounding area. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for them, but I still want to briefly introduce them to you:
Minneriya National Park is just a short drive away and is especially known for its large elephant population. During the so-called “Gathering” season (usually between July and October), sometimes hundreds of elephants gather around the water sources — an incredible natural spectacle. Compared to Udawalawe National Park further south, Minneriya is considered slightly less touristy, though this naturally depends on the season.
Also easily accessible is the Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple of Dambulla). This temple complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consists of several caves adorned with Buddha statues and colorful wall paintings. The location alone, perched on a rock, makes the visit particularly impressive.
A bit further away is the Avukana Buddha Statue — a freestanding Buddha statue over 12 meters tall, dating back to the 5th century. Even though we didn’t manage to visit it, it’s another striking example of the rich history of this region.
So Sigiriya isn’t just a stop for the two famous rocks — it’s also a wonderful base for getting to know the cultural heart of Sri Lanka a little better.