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Looking for the ultimate guide to Sigiriya? From all your essential travel information to what to know before you go, the main things to see and do at Sigiriya Rock Fortress, plus responsible travel tips, accommodation recommendations and more, we’ve got you covered!
Rising from the lush jungle cover of Sri Lanka's central plains, Sigiriya Rock is truly a breathtaking sight to behold.
This towering 200m sheer rock, thrust upwards from an otherwise flat landscape and often skirted by a veil of mist that shrouds it in mystery, is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. And a wonder it is, given that it’s both a geological marvel billions of years old and also home to an ancient palace and fortress built in the 5th century by a greedy King.
Today, Lion Rock, as it's affectionately known, is steeped in human myth and legend about Kings and monks, triumphs and defeats, and the historical importance of Buddhism to the local area.
For travellers seeking to understand the cultural heart of Sri Lanka, a visit to Sigiriya (and neighbouring Pidurangala) is a must-do.
Hiking to the top of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress to explore the ancient ruins and enjoy the vistas over the misty forests, lakes and villages below has become somewhat of a rite of passage for travellers to Sri Lanka, and something we think every visitor to the country should do.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about visiting Sigiriya, including essential travel information, what to know before you go, what to see while you’re there, plus responsible travel tips, accommodation recommendations, and day trips from Sigiriya to nearby Sri Lankan highlights.
SIGIRIYA ROCK HISTORY
Sigiriya’s history is long and varied; once the volcanic plug of a long-dead and eroded volcano more than two billion years old, it’s been home to Mesolithic humans and reclusive Buddhist monks and has been theorised by some historians as the Alkamandava or City of Gods, described in the ancient Sanskrit Ramayanaya
But it’s the murderous tale of the 5th century King Kashyapa I, that saw Sigiriya suddenly rise to spectacular prominence in Sri Lanka’s history. See, what happens when you’re the ambitious —but illegitimate — eldest son of the King, and your younger (but more legitimate) brother, Mogallana, is the rightful heir to the throne?
You hatch a plan to kill your father by imprisoning him behind a wall and exile your brother to India before assuming the throne yourself, of course!
King Kasyapa knew that this wasn't likely to be the end of the story though, and that his brother would eventually summon an army to reclaim what was rightfully his. In preparation, he moved the capital from the ancient (and flat) city of Anuradhapura, transforming the unlikely rock into an immense resting lion staircase, stately palace, and elegant gardens.
The King’s Palace in the Clouds would only last 18 years though; eventually, his forces were defeated and Kashyapa died (by suicide or murder remains to be seen) in 495 AD. The fortress was eventually passed back to monks, while his legacy has millions of tourists flocking to its wonders each year
SIGIRIYA ROCK ENTRANCE FEE & OPENING HOURS
Entry to Sigiriya is USD $36 per person (as of 2024).
The Sigiriya ticket office is located on a side street next to the main fortress entrance (location here) and is open from 5:30 am - 5 pm (2024 opening hours).
It’s easily missed, so make sure you visit this first to purchase your tickets before you make your way into the complex (don’t make the mistake of heading up the stairs without one, or you’ll need to turn around and retrace your steps again to get one!).
Payment is possible in both cash and by card (this differs from our first visit in 2016 which was cash only), and while there is a Bank of Ceylon ATM next to the ticket office, don’t rely on it working (it wasn’t when we were there).
Once you’ve purchased your ticket, head to the ticket scanning booth at the bridge over Sigiriya moat, before entering the complex.
There are also public toilets located next to the entrance.
IS THE SIGIRIYA TICKET PRICE WORTH IT?
There’s plenty of debate amongst travellers as to whether the (admittedly very steep) entrance fee for Sigiriya is worth it.
Obviously, it’s up to your budget and interests, but we visited on our first trip to Sri Lanka in 2016 and splurged on visiting the fortress with absolutely no regrets - it really is a super unique and interesting historic site akin to The Vatican in Rome, or Louvre in Paris - and no one has an issue paying an entrance fee there.
The entry fee for Sigiriya also includes entry to the Sigiriya Museum, which explains the ancient city’s history and some of its top attractions.
The fees for entry at Sigiriya (and other cultural sites around Sri Lanka) all go into the Central Cultural Fund, which funds the maintenance, research, and conservation of monuments and sites all over the country.
While many people recommend heading to neighbouring — and much cheaper — Pidurangala (read our guide to Pidurangala here) for epic Sigiriya views instead, what Pidurangala lacks is the ancient history, frescoes, and beautiful grounds of its more expensive neighbour.
If exploring culture and history is something you love, we’d recommend making the visit to Sigiriya.
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT SIGIRIYA, SRI LANKA
Sigiriya is best visited during the dry season, between late December and early April, with March being the optimum in terms of visibility and weather conditions.
That said, this is also very much the hottest part of the year; we visited Sigiriya in mid-April and let’s just say there isn’t really an adjective to describe how stiflingly hot and humid it was, even by 8 am!
Pack as many fluids as you can, and sunscreen and a hat are necessities too.
Do also keep in mind that as this is also peak tourist season, large crowds should be expected. We’ve even heard stories about the stairs becoming so jammed that the 1-hour climb became more like 2-3!
THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO VISIT SIGIRIYA
Sigiriya is open between 5:30 am - 6 - 6:30 pm each day (the ticket office closes at 5 pm - the exit time depends on many factors, but you’ll start to be ushered out at 6 pm).
YOU’LL MISS SUNRISE ANYWAY | The gates open at 5:30 am, however, the Royal and Water Gardens are covered in shadow, so we head to enjoy, and there’s an hour's hike to the top, so sunrise is a no-deal anyway. You can, however, get some great sunset action by climbing later in the day.
YOU CAN VISIT PIDURANGALA AT SUNRISE | While the views from Sigiriya are epic, you can't really beat the view from Pidurangala of Sigiriya and the Central Plains, best viewed at sunrise. Visiting Sigiriya at sunset and Pidurangala at sunrise is how we’d tackle the two ourselves!
BEAT THE HEAT | Obviously, climbing to the top of Sigiriya in the late afternoon/evening means a good chance of avoiding much of the harsh heat of the day. Visiting at sunset also guarantees that you’ll enjoy some cooler weather on your descent, instead of the searing sun of the early morning hike.
LESS CROWDS | Most people tend to visit Sigiriya in the morning through the afternoon; a sunset hike avoids these crowds.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Sigiriya gives you 360° views of the Central Plains, so you’re not necessarily dictated by where the light’s coming from (particularly for those interested in photography)
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB SIGIRIYA ROCK
This really depends on your level of fitness and desire to explore every nook and cranny of the site.
Those with a reasonable level of fitness who are also stopping to look at things along the way should be able to complete the 1000+ steps to the top in 60 minutes.
However, do also factor in some decent extra time to wander along the gardens, explore the ruins at the top (we spent about 40 minutes up the top), and about 30 minutes for your descent. All in all, we’d recommend setting aside at least 3 hours for your visit.
THE BEST THINGS TO DO AT SIGIRIYA ROCK
THE SIGIRIYA MUSEUM
Entry to the Sigiriya Museum is included in your ticket price, and it’s worth a visit to gain some background context to Sigiriya and its long and varied history.
The Museum includes a large 3-D model of Sigiriya Rock, explanations of ancient (and extremely valuable) trading routes with the rest of the world, and plenty of photos of the early excavations undertaken by British archaeologist HCP Bell (who excavated many of Sri Lanka’s cultural sites) in the late 19th century.
Sigiriya Museum is a photography-free zone.
THE ROYAL GARDENS
While most people flock to Sigiriya for the Rock Fortress itself, the stunning former royal gardens that surround the area are also more than worth your time.
The gardens are peaceful and lush, with picturesque terraced gardens, lovely water fountains and features, and several natural boulders scattered through.
They’re also considered to be amongst the oldest landscaped urban gardens in the world and made use of highly advanced technology of the time.
THE WATER GARDENS
The water gardens are the first you pass through as you enter the Sigiriya complex; a symmetrical collection of pretty pools and water features, former bathing lagoons and island pavilions that are fed by a sophisticated network of underground ducts and hydraulics systems that were engineering marvels for the era.
THE BOULDER GARDENS
Where the Water Gardens have the classic beauty and symmetry you’d also expect to see at any former royal palace in Europe, the Boulder Gardens are far more in the line of the ‘Angkor Wat jungle temple’ style, with narrow winding paths that twist through and past a series of ancient natural boulders.
These boulders once formed the foundations of the monastery the monks of Sigiriya called home centuries ago, and at one point in time their surfaces would have been adorned with Buddha relics and shrines.
Today, you can still see plenty of evidence of ancient monastic life here along the walls, caves, and rock shelves.
THE FRESCOES | SIGIRIYA DAMSELS
Potentially one of Sigiriya’s most famous, and celebrated, attractions, the frescoes wall is home to the so-called ‘Sigiriya Damsels’; 21 beautiful, scantily clad women with rather ample bosoms offering fruit trays or flower petals painted right onto the rock face.
The ladies are rumoured to be either apsaras (celestial nymphs), King Kasyapa’s concubines, or even the figure of Tara, an important figure in Tantric Buddhism. Protected from the elements by the overhanging rock, the images are still stunningly vibrant and fascinating to look at.
Photography is banned here to protect the Damsels — flash photography is highly damaging, and unfortunately, previous tourists have ignored warnings not to use it, so no one gets nice things now — and we’ve heard plenty of stories of cameras being confiscated without return, so don’t risk it.
THE MIRROR WALL
Once thought to be so polished that the King could see his own reflection in the stone, the mirror wall is a lot less shiny these days.
That doesn't mean it’s insignificant though — it’s covered with the scrawls of ancient graffiti by the visitors to Sigiriya over the the 1500 years, with poems, visitor impressions, and tributes etched all over it like a huge ancient guest book, dating from as far back as the 7th century.
Note | Due to the historical significance of some of this graffiti, visitors are prohibited from scrawling their own tributes today. Please respect this by not drawing on the walls yourself (nor on any culturally significant structure around the world).
LION PAW STAIRCASE
These are the paws that give Sigiriya its Lion Rock nickname; two gigantic lion paws that guard a narrow staircase. Once upon a time, the 5th-century stairway would have led one up from these paws and into the gaping mouth of the lion.
Ascending to the final summit through Lion’s mouth was meant to be a symbolic reminder to Buddhist devotees at the time that Buddha was Sakya-Sinha or Lion of the Sakya Clan, and his truth was as powerful as a Lion’s roar.
The Lion’s head collapsed long ago, leaving only these paws and initial stairs behind, though you can still see the various construction grooves or pegs along the way!
THE SIGIRIYA SUMMIT
The final part of the Sigiriya summit, up the narrow metal staircase that seems to be precariously nailed into the rock face, can be a little anxiety-inducing for those with a fear of heights.
However, once you step out into the open space of the fortress summit the views over the emerald canopy below are absolutely worth it.
The ruins of King Kasyapa’s fortified palace are scattered about here, though they’ve been whittled down to mere foundations and aren’t overly impressive to wander around.
What you’re really here for is the views, and with Pidurangala in the distance and lush jungle carpeting the plains below as far as the eye can see, it’s a breathtaking sight, and a just reward for hiking up more than 1,000 stairs.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING SIGIRIYA
YOU’LL NEED A REASONABLE LEVEL OF FITNESS
The climb to the top of Sigiriya Rock Fortress is not for the faint hearted; it’s a pretty gruelling hour-long stair incline in pretty stifling heat and humidity, and we guarantee that even the fittest amongst you will find it a sweaty, somewhat breathless hike.
At the risk of sounding like your mum, be prepared by knowing your limits, having lots of water and sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat ready.
Those with a fear of heights may also find it a somewhat challenging hike - but it’s very safe and totally worth it, in our opinion.
ACCESSIBILITY IS AN ISSUE
The only way to the top of the Sigiriya is via a steep stair-climb of about an hour. In short, it’s unfortunately not very accessible.
If you have issues with mobility or steep inclines, unfortunately this might be a spot you'll have to pass on.
Fortunately, you could still definitely explore the grounds of the fortress, and there are still plenty of viewpoints to see the rock fortress from ground level.
IT’S POSSIBLE TO VISIT WITH KIDS, BUT COME PREPARED
Visiting Sigiriya with kids is possible, but comes with caution.
Firstly, if your children are 3 or under, we suggest packing a child carrier or backpack for the stairs to the summit. Pack extra fluids, as you’ll need them.
Children will need ample sunscreen applied, and sun protection is necessary as the sun is oppressive come 9 am.
At the summit, there are no safety barriers so keep a close eye on your childrens movements, especially when explore the ponds in the southern corner of the summit.
PAY ATTENTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY SIGNS
Photography is actually banned in a few places along the Sigiriya hike, particularly along the frescoes wall.
The signs are pretty hard to miss, and they’re there assist in the protection and preservation of the centuries-old rock paintings, so please don’t ignore them.
Management is very strict on this rule now, and have been known to confiscate cameras (without return) if you ignore this.
DON’T DISTURB THE SIGIRIYA WASPS!
As you walk through the grounds of Sigiriya, you’ll notice warning signs about wasps in the area — these are not to be taken lightly!
There are a number of large wasp nests throughout the grounds and in the rock walls, and there are, unfortunately, a few attacks each year.
Supposedly, there’s a locally-held belief that they’re actually King Kashyapa’s reincarnated army back to guard his fortress.
Whether you believe this or not, the best way to avoid getting stung is by walking very quietly and avoiding aggressive gestures, particularly along the stairs. There are also protective mesh cages visitors can use during a wasp attack.
Don’t let this put you off though— we didn’t encounter any issues during our visit.
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