Sri Lanka's Sigiriya: How to Experience the Impressive Fortress

After his defeat and death, Sigiriya reverted to serving as a Buddhist monastery until the 14th century when it, too, was abandoned. The rock-top fortress isn’t the only interesting site to behold at Sigiriya though. Surrounding the monolith are some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. The water garden channels fill in the rainy season and circulate throughout the entire area of Sigiriya. The fountains are equally impressive and are some of the oldest functioning. You’ll also find caves with ancient frescoes and what remains of the western wall of paintings — all examples of a Sri Lankan school of classical realism.

The site is architecturally and historically significant, and it absolutely worth a visit. It’s amazing now; imagine what it must’ve been like 1500 years ago!

How to get there

Sigiriya is located about 25km from the town of Dambulla. There are frequent buses that run between the two from 6:30AM to 6PM.

What to consider

• Admission to climb the rock is ~$27.
• The ticket office is cash only.
• There are approximately 1200 steps to reach the fortress at the top of the 200-meter rock.
• It’ll take you 1.5-2 hours to get up and back down.
• A guide is not necessary, although there are several who will try to tell you otherwise and sell you their services.
• The Sigiriya museum is an interesting visit. It shows excavation photos, fresco reproductions and some translations. If you plan to visit, allow an hour.