Saturday, November 21, 2015

Climbing Lion Rock, Sigiriya In Sri Lanka

By Jonny Blair


A trip to the fantastic Sigiriya Lion Rock in Sri Lanka is something you should do if you happen to be in the central part of the country. We had stayed in Dambulla the previous night and done the sightseeing round there. Then it was time to hit up Sigirya - Lion Rock.

Getting to Sigiriya

There are many ways to get out there to Sigiriya, one of the most common is actually to stay in the nearby town of Dambula. This is a truly cool spot which has its own bars, cafes, restaurants and some cosy hotels. Plus you can tour the temples when you are there and feel you are immersing yourself in the local lifestyle of this epic Sri Lankan town.

What price is climbing Sigiriya?

The bad news it costs a whopping THIRTY US DOLLARS. That's $30 US. Non-negotiable. It's a one off payment and you pay it at the entrance to Sigiriya. Yes, I know you're all saying how can I budget for this? And to be honest, it hits the wallet hard - Sri Lanka is cheap and you can get a 5 hour bus ride for under $2 US yet have to fork out fifteen times as much to see (and climb up) a rock.

What exactly is Sigiriya?

Sigiriya is a really big rock. Since 1982 it has been rightly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are over 1,000 hand written poems on the wall, all written between the 7th and 14th century. Visitors to Sigiriya walk around the grounds before ascending to the peak of the rock for sensational views and to see the old city.

For what length of time should you stay at Sigiriya?

OK so you need to get to the entrance, then walk all the way to the top, savour the views, walk around then come back down. You can also visit the museum and gift shop. The views from the top are amazing.

What else can you do at Sigiriya?

The museum and gift shop are only there to make money if truth be told and you've already given them $30 US. You can also tour the rock and temples

Overall the Lion Rock at Sigiriya in Sri Lanka is a magnificent place to backpack to and most people love it. Bring your camera and savour the views.




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