How to Visit Sigiriya – Your Complete Guide

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You cannot Google Sri Lanka without seeing this solitary rock come up in your search results. This famous rock was actually once ancient Sri Lanka’s capital and there’s an interesting back story on how it ended up becoming the capital. Often considered one of the 8 Wonders of the World, Sigiriya is a must visit site in Sri Lanka. This post covers how to visit Sigiriya and provides a complete guide that answers all your questions. Also, who better to tell you all about Sigiriya than a Sri Lankan!

Note – This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, I get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.

A Brief History of Sigiriya

There has been evidence of human habitation in and around Sigiriya from prehistoric times. There is also evidence that the caves and rock shelters in and around Sigiriya were used by Buddhist monks going back to the 3rd century BC. However, Sigiriya’s more famous story only is from 1500 years ago in the 5th century AD. It begins with a prince called Kashayapa who is the then King Datusena’s illegitimate heir. Prince Kashayapa murdered his father by walling him in alive and usurped the legitimate heir, his half brother (Moggollana) and took over the throne. Scared for his life Moggollana fled to India.

Kashayapa then moved the capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya. He built his castle on top of the Sigiriya rock and, legend has it lived quite the opulent life for about 18 years until Moggollana came back to take his throne with an army he had raised in India. It is said that Kashayapa died by suicide by falling on his own sword.

Moggolllana then moved the capital back to Anuradhapura and this area was used as a Buddhist monastery until about the 14th century after which it was abandoned for centuries until the 19th century.

Archaeologically, Sigiriya is a treasure trove. Archaeologists have found lots of evidence of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic and trading relationships with the ancient world, including civilizations like China, Greece and Rome in Sigiriya.

Today, Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of eight UNESCO heritage sites that you will find in Sri Lanka. It is also considered to be one of the contenders for the 8th Wonder of the World.

What Does Sigiriya Mean?

Sigiriya comes from the sinhala word Sinha Giri which translates to Lion Rock.

Today, Sigiriya is called many names including, Lions Rock, Sigiri Rock Fortress.

When to Visit Sigiriya?

Sigiriya is best visited during the dry months of December to April. The wet season runs during the other months and which may bring showers, especially in the afternoon. This being said, the weather patterns in Sri Lanka have been changing the last few years. We used to have very distinct wet and dry seasons which is not necessarily the case now.

April and August are usually the hottest months in Sri Lanka. Think 90F+/32C+ temperatures and 95+ degree humidity. If you are visiting Sigiriya during these months, I highly recommend that you visit early in the morning. This being said, Sri Lanka and especially the area Sigiriya is located at is hot in general any time of the year, so make sure you are protected well from the heat if you visit mid-day.

How to Get to Sigiriya?

If you are aiming to get to Sigiriya early morning, I recommend staying in and around the area. In my most recent trip, we stayed in Habarana and it was about a 30 minute drive from our hotel to Sigiriya.

If you are coming from Colombo, it may take you 3-4 hours to get to Sigiriya depending on the traffic.

By Car

Regardless from where in the country you are coming from, traveling by car is the most convenient and fastest way to get to Sigiriya. You can either hire a taxi for the day or book a private transfer.

We used Prime Taxi and had a good experience overall.

By Tuk Tuk

You could potentially hire a tuk tuk to bring you to Sigiriya as well. If you are doing this, you may have to arrange for it the day prior with a tuk tuk driver. Don’t depend on finding a tuk tuk via an app or from the street the day of. If you are coming from Colombo, the journey may take 4-5 hours (tuks can’t go as fast as cars). Alternatively, you can also hire a tuk tuk and drive it yourself. This mode is fast becoming popular with tourists, however, unless you are used to driving in chaos, I personally would not do it.

By Bus

There is no direct bus to Sigiriya. If you are coming from Colombo, you will have to take a bus going to either Anuradhapura (bus 15), Polonnaruwa (bus 48) or Trincomalee (bus 49) and get off at Dambulla. From Dambulla you will have to catch a bus to Sigiriya. It will be the same if you are coming from Kandy as well.

You can also find air conditioned buses that go from Colombo to Dambulla. Check them out HERE. They are more expensive but maybe worth it given the heat in Sri Lanka. This bus is a little faster (around 3-4 hours) than the regular bus which can take 4-5 hours.

By Train

Coming by train is the slowest option. It will take around 5-6 hours and there is only 1 train that runs daily from Colombo to Habarana which is located 15 KM away. You will still have to find your way to Sigiriya from Habarana. I don’t recommend this option.

By Air

If you want to splurge, there is also an option to take a domestic flight from Colombo to Sigiriya. This private flight is offered by Cinnamon Air. You can check out more HERE.

How to Visit Sigiriya?

Hours:

Sigiriya is open daily from 5 AM to 6:30 PM with the last ticket issued at 5 PM. The frescoes close at 5:45 PM.

Tickets:

See HERE for current ticket prices. There is a good discount for visitors from SAARC countries. You can buy the ticket online or in-person. If you are planning to go mid-day, then I think it will be best to buy your ticket online to avoid crowds at the ticket stand.

There is a museum ticket that is already included in the entry fee, so you don’t have to buy it separately.

What to See in Sigiriya

Gardens

Sigiriya has a water garden, a boulder garden and a terraced garden at the summit. The water gardens are considered one of the best-preserved water gardens in South Asia and one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. These symmetrical gardens consists of various ponds and stepped pool and was powered by a network of underground ducts and hydraulics systems.

Lion’s Paws

The Lion’s Paws can be found around the mid-way point and is a huge landmark. It is believed that the carved out Lion’s Paws were the beginning of the final ascent and you had to walk into a large carved Lion’s mouth to go up to the top. The paws are where the rock got it’s name sinha (lion) giri (rock) from.

Frescoes

These 1500 year old frescoes are a must visit attraction in Sigiriya. To access these you must climb a spiral staircase. The frescoes are located inside a cave cut into the rock. It is rumored that there were around 500 of these paintings but only 21 have survived the test of time. There are many theories as to who these women were, ranging from the King’s concubines to goddesses to celestial nymphs. Most of them are adorned in jewelry and flowers and are also holding florals.

You cannot take pictures inside this area. They will ask to see your camera if they think you took pictures so don’t do it. The pictures below are from the official Sigiriya website.

Mirror Wall

There are two theories to the original purpose of the mirror wall. Some say it was so that the king could see himself as he passed by and some say it was to reflect the paintings on the opposite rock so that it created a unique visual. But in later years, visitors wrote their heartfelt thoughts about Sigiriya in verses and poems on this wall. Some of the writings are said to date back to the 7th century!

Summit

While the castle is long gone, the summit of Sigiriya still has the foundation of the castle. There is also a large stone throne that overlooks the terraced gardens where the king supposedly watched women dance as they entertained him during the evenings. Close to the terraced gardens is a big pond. But the best part about the summit in my opinion are the views! You can see 360 degree views of the surrounding area from the summit.

Museum

Sigiriya has a museum that is included in your ticket. It showcases the history of Sigiriya and the surrounding area beyond the story of king Kashayapa.

Is Sigiriya Hard to Climb?

I thought about the answer to this question and I think the answer is that it’s relative! Sigiriya is almost 200 meters tall and there are over 1200 steps from the ground to the summit. I’ve seen old Sri Lankan grandmothers do it and I’ve seen people much younger stop at the Lion’s Paws. Just take it slow and prepare for the heat and I think you should be fine. If you have a fear of heights, you may want to assess your level of comfort at the Lion’s Paws. The climb beyond this is on a narrow, external steel staircase.

What to Wear?

Sigiriya is not a religious place, so there is no dress code as such. Wear comfortable and light clothing and a good pair of sneakers. You certainly don’t have to wear sneakers. There are lots of locals who climb in flip-flops but sneakers will help you climb faster and safer.

You should also pack sunscreen and a hat. The wind can be strong at the summit and during the final ascent, so if you do wear a hat, make sure you secure it. I remember my baby cousin lost his Toronto Blue Jay’s baseball cap in Sigiriya when we visited as children.

Make sure you also pack a lot of water as well!

How Long do You Need to Visit Sigiriya?

If you go early in the morning, then around 2.5 hours to 3 hours is a good estimate. It’s harder to estimate the time around mid-day as there maybe “traffic jams” at the final ascent.

Tips for Visiting Sigiriya

• Start you day early or go during the late afternoon.
• Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring lots of water!
• Where are lots of places with active wasp nests. Be careful not to disturb them. Don’t be loud in these areas.
• Be careful of the monkeys. Don’t feed them!
• If you can afford it, hire a guide. A guide can teach you a lot more about the historic significance of Sigiriya, beyond what you are seeing.

Where to Stay?

If you are staying overnight either before or after your visit to Sigiriya, I highly recommend staying either in Sigiriya itself or in Dambulla or Habarana. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Sigiriya from either Dambulla or Habarana which is not too bad of a drive.

I know that my readers may have varied budgets for accommodation and that is why I am sharing a link to booking.com instead of giving out recommendations. I have been to 58 countries and counting and I have booked almost all my accommodation via booking.com including this recent trip to Sigiriya. Booking lets you filter for many different facilities and amenities and also various review scores. You can even filter for cancelable options. I cannot recommend booking.com more and have been a loyal user for years! Here is the link, I have set it to Sigiriya for your convenience. See HERE

I stayed at Habarana Lodge, which is one of my favorite hotels in Sri Lanka. Nestled in a jungle like setting, this hotel offers a peaceful and relaxing respite from the outside world!

Where to Eat?

There are lots of places to eat long the lake and on Hotel Road and the road perpendicular to Hotel Road. These places offer Sri Lankan food and your typical cafe type food and almost all are rated above 4.7/5 stars on Google! Soul Food has a beautiful location with a view of the lake a and a very clear view of Sigiriya.

Wondering what to eat in Sri Lanka? Check out my detailed guide HERE!

Other Things to Do in the Area

Half Day Activities

Sigiriya is located within Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle and there’s actually a lot you can do in this area. Below are some suggestions that you can easily couple with your visit to Sigiriya on the same day. I will publish detailed blog posts about each of these in the coming weeks but here are some brief introductions for now.

Pidurangala

Pindurangala rock lies directly opposite Sigiriya and offers stunning vistas of Sigiriya and the surrounding areas. Pindurangala used to be an ancient monastery built into the caves and rocks. Today, you will see a reclining Buddha statue as you hike your way up to the summit. The best time to hike Pidurangala is either at sunset or sunrise.

How to couple with your visit to Sigiriya – Visit Sigiriya in the early morning, relax at your hotel during the day and then climb Pidurangala for sunset. You can also do this the other way around. If you are day tripping, you can relax at a nearby hotel like Hotel Sigiriya or Sigiriya Village on a day pass.

Dambulla

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 3rd century BC cave temple is the largest cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The caves are full of beautiful murals and 100+ Buddha statues. The murals depict stories from the Buddha’s life. You do have to climb a reasonable numbers of stairs to get to the top where the caves are but it’s not as bad as Sigiriya.

How to couple with your visit to Sigiriya – Visit one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. They are less than 30 minutes apart.

Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and my favorite out of the 6 historic UNESCO World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka. It was the 2nd kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka and was used as the country’s capital from 1055-1232 AD. A visit to Polonnaruwa will take you to the ruins that are still standing from ancient times! You will see royal halls, temples, image houses, royal baths, and ruins of the palace.

How to couple with your visit to Sigiriya – It takes about 1.25 hours to go from Sigiriya to Polonnaruwa. So, if you get done at Sigiriya around 10-11 AM, you can easily do a half day to Polonnaruwa. One callout is that Polonnaruwa will be hot. Take precaution! Another alternative is to reverse the itinerary and go to Polonnaruwa early morning and Sigiriya in the early evening (last ticket issue is at 5 PM).

My complete guide to Polonnaruwa can be found HERE!

Ritigala

Ritigala is a forest monastery dating back to the 1st century BC. You can see remnants of the monastery and lots of diverse flora and fauna in this area. It takes about 1.5 hours to get to Ritigala from Sigiriya.

Village Experience

About 80% of Sri Lankans live in rural areas and villages. To get the authentic Sri Lankan experience, you can visit and tour a village and see how a majority of Sri Lankans live. The village of Hiriwadunna between Habarana and Sigiriya offers a glimpse into this life.

The experience ranges from boat tours (in traditional boats), cooking, a tour of the village, using local transport and having a home cooked village style meal.

Call Chandrasena +94779396835 to book.

Cooking Class

If you are interested in learning how to cook Sri Lankan food, these highly rated tours will teach you how to prepare a full Sri Lankan meal. Both these tours are in the area and is a great way to spend the afternoon after touring Sigiriya.

Elephant Safari

There are lots of elephants in the area near Sigiriya and a little up the road in Habarana (25 minutes away), Kaudulla (50 minutes away), and Minneriya (also 50 minutes away). They can be found in at least one of these parks depending on the season. Rains and water supply have a lot to do with where they go and what areas they frequent. You can book one of these tours. The Operator will tell you which park to come to depending on where the elephants are.

More Than One Day?

If you have more than a day, consider expanding your trip to the following places.

Kandy

Kandy was the 8th and last kingdom of Sri Lanka and is located 2.5 hours from Sigiriya. There are lots of things to do in Kandy, including visiting perhaps the most significant temple in the country which holds a relic of the Buddha. Kandy also has other 14th and 15th century temples, botanical gardens and a scenic lake. It’s hillside location is ideal if you are looking for an ever so slight break from the scorching heat. I recommend at least 1 full day in Kandy but 2 days is better if you have the time!

Trincomalee

Located about 2 hours from Habarana, Trincomalee is one of the most beautiful beaches the country has to offer. Trincomalee (Trinco for short) has turquoise blue waters and white sand beaches with lots of snorkeling . It also is a place of historic significance. Whether you are looking to relax on a beach or learn more history, Trinco has you covered in both these aspects. I recommend at least 2 days in Trincomalee.

Tours

Prefer for someone else to handle all the details? Check out these tours below! Some even provide transport from Colombo!

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