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Things to do in Sigiriya

Our most recommended things to do in Sigiriya

Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip from Colombo

1. Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip from Colombo

Depart Colombo and travel by a shared vehicle, in a small group, to the city of Sigiriya, and head directly to Sigiriya Rock on arrival. Gaze in awe at the massive column of rock that, according to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle The Culavamsa, was selected by King Kasyapa as the site of his new capital. Admire numerous paintings of historic queens, princesses, and maids inside the rock fortress before getting a break for lunch at your own expense. Then, explore some of the traditional crafts of the region, such as wood carving and batik textiles, with time to purchase souvenirs before departing. Start the journey back towards Colombo via Dambulla to explore the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Discover the magnificent Buddha images and rock paintings of vivid colors and different shapes, painted from around the 2nd century B.C. up to the 18th-century Kandyan era.

Sigiriya: Rock Fortress Guided Walking Tour

2. Sigiriya: Rock Fortress Guided Walking Tour

Enjoy a guided walking tour of the Sigiriya Rock Fortress, one of the most important attractions on Sri Lanka's cultural triangle. In the company of an experienced guide, explore the fort and its important historical monuments. During the tour, discover the most important areas in the fort complex and enjoy a detailed and informative commentary about each area from your guide. Start your walking tour at a picturesque miniature water garden and finish at the eastern gate of the Sigiriya archaeological site. Along the way, visit miniature water gardens, swimming pools, and boulder gardens. You will also have the opportunity to admire fresco paintings, the 'Lion's Paw' and other ruins at the summit of the rock.

From Kalutara: Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Full-Day Tour

3. From Kalutara: Sigiriya Rock and Dambulla Cave Full-Day Tour

Explore two of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO-listed highlights on a privately guided day trip to Dambulla and the Sigiriya Rock from Kalutara. You will be starting your tour at 0600 hrs from your hotel in Colombo, where you will be picked up your chauffeur. Ensure that you bring a packed breakfast with you, if you are unable to have your meal at the hotel. The first stop on your itinerary will be the Dambulla Cave Temple which you will reach by approximately 1000 hrs. (Travel Time 4 to 4 ½ hrs) View Sri Lanka’s countryside and villages as you journey to the atmospheric Dambulla Cave Temple (Entrance Fee Per Person USD 11), a Cliffside cave complex packed with Buddha images and frescoes. Enter the historic caves of the Golden Temple of Dambulla, dating back to the 1st century BC. View the ancient murals depicting the life story of Lord Gautama Buddha. Look at the hundreds of figurines of Buddha and other deities scattered throughout the five main caves. Visit the Cave of the Divine King, Cave of the Great King and the Great New Monastery. See the giant golden Buddha Statue just a little distance outside the cave complex. At approximately 1230 hrs you will be have lunch at a place of your choice (At your own expense) and reach Sigiriya by 1400 hrs and visit Sigiriya Rock Fortress. (Travel Time 35 to 45 mins) Rising from the central plains, the iconic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka's single most dramatic sight. Near-vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilization, thought to be once the epicenter of the short lived kingdom of Kassapa. Climb the 5th century AD rock fortress, Sigiriya, where the King Kasyapa ruled. Walk through the entrance framed by the paws of a lion that is quite appropriate for its name, ' the Lion Rock'. View the beautiful unfading murals that brought Sigiriya its fame. Climb the steep staircase to see the terraced gardens and still-working cisterns. Walk through the tunnels leading to the palace as you get a feel for times long past. You will be finishing the tour at 1700 hrs and returning to your hotel in Kalutara by approximately 2200 hrs. En-route you may stop at Restaurant at your choice and have dinner.

From Bentota: Day Trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla Temple

4. From Bentota: Day Trip to Sigiriya and Dambulla Temple

After getting picked up from your hotel in Bentota or Kalutara, begin the 3-hour journey to the Sigirya rock fortress. Here you will discover the historical and cultural values of ancient Sri Lanka and get to witness the engineering skills and artistic capabilities of Sri Lankan artisans and engineers. Wander through this vast complex and admire the various palaces, pools, gardens, and paintings. Later, head to the Dambulla Royal Cave Temple, which is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the world. Marvel at the beautiful Buddhist paintings and statues housed in this cave and see for yourself why it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finally, visit a spice garden where you can soak up the aromas of the various traditional spices grown here such as cinnamon, cardamom and nutmeg. Head back to your hotel in the evening, just in time for dinner.

Wasgamuwa: Wasgamuwa National Park Private 3-Hour Safari

5. Wasgamuwa: Wasgamuwa National Park Private 3-Hour Safari

Neighboring the historic city of Polonnaruwa, Wasgamuwa National Park is one of the precious national treasures of Sri Lanka. On a morning or afternoon 3-hour safari, discover the opulence of the flora and fauna in the dry tropical forest setting, overlooking the stunning landscape of the park. Enjoy a private safari ride while filling your lungs with the refreshing air and listening to the symphony of crickets and birds. Rest assured you will capture the sight of mighty elephants on this safari ride. The national park is also a home to a diverse range of mammals including leopard, sloth bear, purple-faced langur monkey, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer, buffalo, and endemic yellow fronted barbet. Small water pools scattered throughout the national park are rich habitats for a diversity of aquatic life including water monitor, crocodile, python, and various beautiful aquatic birds. Wildlife lovers will be provided clear sights of the wildlife surrounding the pools, offering a world of opportunities to capture extraordinary photographs to take home. The ideal time to visit the park is during November to May, which guarantees you the largest herds of elephants. For those who are planning to explore the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and Dambulla, an exciting and adventurous safari ride to Wasgamuwa National Park is an absolute must.

Sri Lanka: eSIM Data Plan

6. Sri Lanka: eSIM Data Plan

Make your trip to Sri Lanka hassle-free with your convenient eSIM. Stay connected during your travels with high-speed coverage in Sri Lanka as well as Cambodia, Japan, and Bangladesh. Purchase and install your eSIM anytime and anywhere, and choose from a variety of data packages, validity options, and coverage in additional countries. Simply scan the eSIM QR code to access all your essential apps on your trip. Avoid the trouble of managing multiple SIMs with this zero-waste solution. Get one eSIM per device and top up by simply buying and activating additional eSIM plans as you go. Once activated, your coverage will begin according to your selected duration. All iPhone model launched beyond iPhone XS can support eSIM. For Android, if you are unsure, please check with the guideline photo for eligibility. If you can not connect to the internet after install this eSIM, please follow the Self Help Troubleshooting Guide in your GYG voucher. APN (Access Point Name): smartone Local operator info: Sri Lanka: Dialog Cambodia: Hello Axiata Japan: softbank Bangladesh: Robi

3-Day Trip to Sigiriya Kandy Ella Udawalawe with Train Ride

7. 3-Day Trip to Sigiriya Kandy Ella Udawalawe with Train Ride

Day 1 : COLOMBO – SIGIRIYA – KANDY Sigiriya Museum This decent museum has a fine diorama of the site, providing an excellent overview and explaining Sigiriya's cultural importance beyond the obvious natural beauty. The theory that Sigiriya was a Buddhist monastery is given here, although the established position that it was a palace or fortress prevails. Dambulla Cave Temple Dambulla cave temple also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometres east of Colombo and 72 kilometres north of Kandy. Dambulla is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka Sigiriya The Ancient Rock Fortress Rising dramatically from the central plains, the enigmatic rocky outcrop of Sigiriya is perhaps Sri Lanka's single most dramatic sight. Near-vertical walls soar to a flat-topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilization, thought to be once the epicenter of the short-lived kingdom of Kassapa, and there are spellbinding vistas across mist-wrapped forests in the early morning. Overnight Stay at Royal Kandyan or Similar Hotel Day 2 KANDY-NUWARA ELIYA- ELLA Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic The golden-roofed Temple of the Sacred Tooth houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic – a tooth of the Buddha. During puja(offerings or prayers), the heavily guarded room housing the tooth is open to devotees and tourists. However, you don’t actually see the tooth. It’s kept in a gold casket shaped like a dagoba (stupa), which contains a series of six dagoba caskets of diminishing size. As well as the revered main temple, the complex includes a series of smaller temples, shrines and museums. Glenloch Tea Factory Glenloch Tea Factory situated in Nuwara Eliya District at Katukithula on the way to Nuwara Eliya from Kandy. Glenloch tea plantation at Katukithula are been maintain using all the correct method of planting, Soil conversation and Maneuvering. Sri Lanka Become the bets land of most renowned beverage of the world. Sri Lanka silvering water falls process naturally the beauty of nature Ramboda Waterfall Ramboda Falls is 109 m high and 11th highest waterfall in Sri Lanka and 729th highest waterfall in the world. It is situated in Pussellawa area, on the A5 highway at Ramboda Pass. If intrested can be do an Train Ride from Nanu Oya - Ella Overnight Stay Day 3 Ella City Tour – Udawalawe National Park - Colombo Little Adams Peak whether considering the word ‘Little’,it is named after the sacred Adams Peak Nine Arches Bridge The Nine Arch Bridge in Ella is on the Demodara loop and spans 91 meters at a height of 24m. The beautiful nine arches make it a very picturesque spot especially as it is located in a dense jungle and agricultural setting Udawalawe National Park This park is home to several hundred elephants and other rare plants and wildlife We can arrange Drop Colombo Or Negombo or Airport

Colombo: Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle hotspots 2-Day Tour

8. Colombo: Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle hotspots 2-Day Tour

Begin the tour by meeting your tour leader in Colombo and set off for the ancient city of Polonnaruwa. After exploring the history museum of Polonnaruwa, discover the ruins of the ancient city. Later, check in to a standard tourist hotel in Sigiriya for your overnight stay.  The next morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Set off for the Dambulla golden cave temple which was the site where a king of Anuradhapura took refuge from the South Induan invasion in the 1st century BC. Learn about how when the king recaptured the region 13 years later, he converted the caves into a monastery and gifted it to the Buddhist monks. After this, head over to the ancient Sigiriya Rock, where a 5th-century prince who had committed patricide made it his hideout. Also, make a stop at the Pidurangala ancient cave temple. At the end of the tour, you will be returned to Colombo and dropped off at the start point.

From Negombo: Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip

9. From Negombo: Sigiriya and Dambulla Day Trip

After being transported in private car with local English speaking tour guide from Negombo, you will reach your first destination: Sri Lanka's largest rock, Dambulla Cave Temple, which is built on a 600-foot high rock at an elevation of 1118 feet from sea level. It is home to the worlds most acclaimed cave complex of magnificent Buddha images and rock paintings of vivid colors and shapes from the 2nd-century BC to the Kandyan era of the 18th-century.  Your second visit is to Sigiriya Rock, a site of historical and archaeological significance dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters (660 feet) high. According to the ancient Sri Lankan chronicle the Culavamsa, this site was selected by King Kasyapa for his new capital. Finish your day with a tour to see the crafts of the traditional artisans in Sigiriya, including wood carvers and batik makers. Learn about the process of their work and purchase some great souvenirs.  At the end of the trip, your guide will take you back to your hotel in Negombo.

Sri Lanka: Five-day Multi-City Sightseeing Tour

10. Sri Lanka: Five-day Multi-City Sightseeing Tour

Explore the best of Sri Lanka with this tour to the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, rolling tea plantations in Ella, the chance to see wild elephants in the Udawalawa National park. Day 1 - Be welcomed by your guide at the Colombo International Airport where your guide will take you to your hotel in Colombo. Day 2 - Journey from Colombo to Sigiriya after eating a filling breakfast. Visit the Golden Temple of Dambulla, the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. Relax before heading to the ancient rock fortress Sigiriya before having dinner and staying at a 4-star hotel in Sigiriya. Day 3 - Travel to Kandy after a hearty breakfast to visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic which holds the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka. Take some time to unwind in your hotel before proceeding to see the amazing flora at the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens. Eat dinner and stay overnight at a 4-star hotel in Kandy. Day 4 - Next, have a full breakfast before heading to Ella to walk among the lush tea plantations. Learn more about the colonial history of Sri Lanka and take in stunning landscape views. Return to your hotel in Ella for dinner and to rest. Day 5 - After breakfast, drive to Udawalawa National park where you can spot elephants in their natural habitat.

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What people are saying about Sigiriya

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 115 reviews

We started our tour directly from our hotel in Colombo, our guide was very kind, helpful and always very attentive, helping to make the tour special. Sigiriya is a breathtaking place and it was definitely my favorite of the tour but Dambulla and Polonnaruwa also satisfied me. We have added the Village Tour thanks to our guide, this is also an unforgettable experience!!! It's been two demanding days it's tiring but it's definitely super recommended!!

There were only 2 of us with our guide buddy. The round trip was very interesting and exciting, well run and lots of tips and since there were only 2 of us, it was also very flexible to our wishes. The selection of hotels was really great, the drive through the country by car was very pleasant!

Beautiful and interesting tour, Sigiriya my favorite but all was amazing with good mix ! Our guide Kaarthe and conductor very professional and always ready to give you a help

It was a nice day spent in Sigiriya and Dambulla. Very flexible upon request. Good experience that I recommend

I had a wonderful time in Sigiriya and Dambulla. The driver was friendly.