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Sigiriya Rock Fortress in Sri Lanka is one of the country’s most spectacular and iconic landmarks. Located in the Matale District in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, it sits at around 200 metres tall and is quite literally one of Sri Lanka’s biggest attractions.
Facts about Sigiriya
- Sigiriya Rock was home to a group of monks in 3rd century AD, however it is most famous for becoming an unlikely setting for a royal palace. King Kashyapa ruled from 477 AD to 495 AD and was born to a non-royal consort. Kashyapa’s younger brother, of royal blood, had been proclaimed as their father’s heir to the kingdom and so Kashyapa took it upon himself to murder his father and seize the throne from his brother. Fearing retaliation, Kashyapa established his palace at the top of Sigiriya, a defensive place to reign from.
- The entrance to the fortress was shaped like a lion, which was built by King Kashyapa. Most of the lion has crumbled away but the paws still remain. This is why Sigiriya is sometimes referred to as ‘Lion Rock’.
- Sigiriya Rock became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and is a must-see on any Sri Lanka itinerary.
Climbing Sigiriya Rock
Reaching the top of Sigiriya was a challenging climb to say the least, especially in the heat. But the view from the top was well worth the effort and definitely something bucket-list worthy.
You start off with a relatively gentle climb, where you can see the wild monkeys and the naked lady frescoes. The climb is quite broken up, in fact there are over 1200 steps to climb in total but they are not all together in one huge staircase thankfully. This first part of the climb is fairly easy.
Eventually you will end up at the famous lion paws. Once you reach the lion paws, this is where the climb becomes difficult, mainly because of the heat. I won’t lie, I had a moment when I reached the top where I thought I was going to pass out! Not everyone in our tour group made it to the top, of the 8 of us, only 5 of us attempted the climb.
I’m not the most fit of people so for me this is one of those things you do that you only truly appreciate once the moment has passed. I thought the heat and tiredness would kill me before I reached the top but I’m glad I made the climb up as the views are spectacular!
One thing to note: the climb down is far easier.
Tips for climbing Sigiriya Rock
- Make sure you take plenty of water with you as there is nowhere to purchase a bottle until you are right back at the bottom and on your way out.
- It goes without saying that sensible shoes and sun protection are a must.
- Watch out for the monkeys – they’ve been known to get a bit lairy. One tried to take an unprovoked swipe at our guide!
- If you can, go with a guide. They can tell you interesting facts about the rock that you might not otherwise learn.
- If you decide to go without a guide, then try to go in the morning when it’s not as hot.
Where to stay in Sigiriya
Habarana Village by Cinnamon was to be our base for two nights and our room was a cute little cottage style room. The hotel grounds themselves made you feel very in touch with nature with the surrounding trees and the lake close by. There were also squirrels in the trees and dragonflies bobbing around the swimming pool.
The pool at the Habarana Village Hotel might have even been my favourite pool during our whole stay in Sri Lanka! And I loved trying to photograph the stunning dragonfly as it perched near me while I took a refreshing dip.
Upon check out, housekeeping had left us a little flower display and a ‘Good Luck’ message on the bed which I thought was a nice touch. In return, we rearranged the flowers to make a smiley face 🙂
The Habarana Village by Cinnamon hotel is just a 20-25 minute drive to Sigiriya Lion Rock.
Is Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sri Lanka worth visiting?
Absolutely! It’s not one of the country’s top attractions for no reason! Even if you aren’t sure whether you are capable of the entire climb, there is still plenty to see and do. If you aren’t already on an organised tour of Sri Lanka, then it is well worth booking a guided tour of Sigiriya Rock.
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