Our review of Sigiriya. Do I need to watch the "eighth wonder of the world"? We will tell you how to get there, about nearby attractions, hotels, cafes. Find out how much a ticket to Lion Rock costs and how to see it for $ 3 instead of $ 30.
Sigiriya is a famous 170 meters high rock and one of the main attractions of Sri Lanka. It is also a three-street village of the same name with a minimally developed tourist infrastructure. Most come here from Dambulla for half a day, have lunch and leave. We decided to stay here for a few days and did not regret it.
If you want a quiet country life in nature with monkeys, geckos, birds and chipmunks, settle in Sigiriya. It is so calm and good here that we settled down for three days. Just choose a hotel a little off the main road, but not very far from the center. Read our report: Living in Paradise for $ 25.
If a developed infrastructure and convenient logistics are important, stop in the neighboring town of Dambulla. From here there are buses to popular places: Anuradhapura, Pollonaruwa, Kandy, Sigiriya, etc. Dambulla is noisy, but there are many hotels and cafes.
How to get to Sigiriya
You can only get there with one or two transfers. It is not simple! The trip is very exhausting and takes the whole day. I don't even know if it's worth it. We got to Sigiriya from Negombo like this:
- Air-conditioned mini-bass to Kurunegala first. Take seats in the front - in the back and in the places above the wheel, shakes and rocks. It takes 2 hours, picks up passengers along the way. Costs Rs 230. There are also simple buses without air conditioning.
- In Kurunegala, the bus stops at the bus station. Go down and ask where the bus to Dambulla is. We read that there is mini-bass with AC, but the locals deny it. I had to go on a regular one without air conditioning - 100 rupees, 2 hours. We advise you to sit away from the speakers with music and plug in earplugs.
- In Dambulla, continue along the street for about 1 km - there will be a bus stop to Sigiriya (no. 490/1 and no. 499/1). Tuk-tukers will persuade them to go with them and say that the bus runs every 1.5 hours. Believe it or not - they drive every 30 minutes. There are no air-conditioned rooms. The price is 40 rupees. They drive for about an hour, because they pick everyone up.
Plan a route from any city on the lanka.ru website.
Hotels in Sigiriya
There are many hotels, guesthouses and homestays. There are no multi-storey ones. Some are located along the main road, others are off to the side. Accommodation with air conditioning and a private bathroom on Rumguru costs from $ 12.
We chose Sunrise Cottage almost in the jungle because we wanted peace and nature. And they were not mistaken! Round the clock - many-voiced bird concerts, the noise of traffic does not reach, occasionally locals pass by on a bike or bicycle. Many birds are flying, chipmunks, hares, 2 white domestic rabbits are running. The owner is very helpful.
In the morning - awakening from the bird band and a traditional Sri Lankan breakfast on the terrace. It is included in the cost of living ($ 24 per day). All this carries over to the 19th century - they felt like colonists. The village center with restaurants, shops and bus stops is about 1.5 km away.
Where to eat in Sigiriya
Before the trip to Sigiriya, we read in the reports of travelers that there is absolutely nowhere to eat - everything is expensive, unsanitary conditions, only establishments for local people. This is not the case: there are enough decent tourist-oriented restaurants in the center of the village. But there are no normal cafes next to the rocks, so settle closer to the center of the village.
We found the best place on TripAdvisor in terms of price, quality and reviews - Pradeep... The restaurant is located in the center, next to the main road to the Sigiriya rock and the bus stop. The minimum check for two is 1500 rupees. The service fee is not included, you can leave a tip - there is a Tip Box. There is delicious avocado cottu, chicken and avocado salad, as well as all kinds of lassis and fresh juices.
Pradeep has low prices, nice staff and delicious food, so there are always a lot of people. In the evening there weren't even always empty seats.
Sigiriya landmarks
Lion Rock - Sigiriya
Sigiriya is the so-called eighth wonder of the world. Tickets cost as much as $ 30, while for locals - a penny. You can only walk around the moat that surrounds the rock for free. On the way, you will meet monkeys, termite mounds, birds, monitor lizards, if you are lucky, you will see a crocodile in the moat. Climbing the rock using the stairs. Above - the ruins of a fortress, from which almost nothing is left, and a view.
Should you look at Lion Rock? We did not - it is too advertised and popular, and the same views can be seen much cheaper from the neighboring Pidurangala. And in general, why climb Sigiriya when the best view of it is from Pidurangala?
Pidurangala Rock
We call it "Second Sigiriya" - an alternative to the expensive Lion Rock. This is also a plateau, with beautiful views of Sigiriya and the surrounding area, but nothing extraordinary. Expected more.
Usually sunrises or sunsets are met on the rock. There are many tourists, but fewer than in Sigiriya. There are even traffic jams during the ascent and descent. A few years ago, no one knew about this rock, and it was possible to climb alone. And today it has almost caught up with the Lion Rock in popularity! Enterprising Sri Lankans and the entry price will soon be over $ 30.
To climb, you need to go through the cave monastery (500 rupees). On the way, you will see cells, a pond, an ancient brahmana inscription and a brick reclining Buddha. The ascent is easy, but very hot and humid. Climb for about 20 minutes. First along the steps, then through the boulders and crevices. Be sure to take water, wear a hat (there is almost no shade at the top) and sports shoes. When entering the temple, you need to take off your shoes, walk through the territory, and then you can put on. Shoulders and knees should be covered. There are handkerchiefs at the entrance and exit.
Advice: If you see the sunset, take care of the way back. You can order a tuk-tuk round trip, and the driver will wait for you. We don't know how much it costs, because we walked. However, the locals assure that it is unsafe to walk there at dusk - wild elephants walk.
Excavation near Pidurangala
Our unexpected find, which impressed more than Sigiriya and Pidurangala - excavations. If you go a little further than the entrance to the cave monastery, you will see picturesque ruins on the left. It's cool, quiet and charming. There are no tourists, only locals harvest the leaves. The stupa is well preserved - beautiful and not restored. The entrance is free.
What else to see in Sigiriya
Nothing more! Locals offer elephant safaris, boat rides on the lake and ethnographic safari. To see more sights, you need to go to Dambulla, and from there to the Golden Triangle of Sri Lanka.
They move around the village by tuk-tuk and on foot. Drivers are terribly spoiled - for a 3 km trip they ask for 300 rupees instead of 80 and do not want to haggle. Unfortunately, the Pick Me app doesn't work here.
If you don't want to encourage the monopolists, walk like we do - the distances are short, and the walk through the jungle is pleasant. As a bonus, you can meet animals along the way: we saw monitor lizards, many monkeys, various birds and, it seems, a crocodile in the moat.
