Home to the island nation’s most coveted UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sigiriya is a popular tourist hotspot for the masses. As a historic city which is part of the country’s Cultural Triangle, planning a trip to the region requires both local insight as well as practical information. Here are some tips on how to plan an unforgettable trip to Sigiriya during a holiday in Sri Lanka and how to experience the best of what the ancient city has to offer.
1. Do Your Homework
Unlike a beach holiday destination or a cosmopolitan city, those planning a trip to a historic precinct in a country should first take the time to learn about the location prior to making concrete travel plans. Sigiriya is one such location not only due to the fact that the town is located within the Cultural Triangle which also includes the former capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa but owning to the many relics and artefacts contained within its confines. With a rich history dating back to the 5th century B.C when King Kashyapa first built his palace in the skies atop a 200m rock in the area, a tour of Sigiriya will be well-informed by reading travel journals and blogs regarding the region and its historic significance. Allowing visitors to make the most of their visit, well-read travellers will also enjoy exploring Sigiriya’s many hidden treasures all the more for the knowledge he or she has gathered.
2. Reaching Sigiriya
The best way to reach Sigiriya from Colombo and other major cities around Sri Lanka is to head to the nearest city of Dambulla. Dambulla, unlike Sigiriya is accessible directly via the railway or bus lines from other prominent cities including Colombo, Kandy, Jaffna and as far as Trincomalee. Visitors who wish to travel to Sigiriya via public transport must therefore purchase tickets to Dambulla and then hop on a three-wheeler or a short-distance bus to reach their final destination. Those who are driving to Sigiriya will have no issues reaching the town directly as it is well-connected to the main highways heading towards the Central Province.
3. Secure a Strategic Base
The next step in the planning process is booking a room in any of the many Sigiriya hotels located in the area. Your accommodation choice, whether it is the Aliya Resort & Spa or any other similar venue should be reliant upon the distance of the hotel to the area’s main attraction, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress. Most hotels and resorts in the area are built in the periphery of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer views of the iconic palace as well. Regardless of whether the venue affords stunning views of the heritage hub or not, the availability of contemporary amenities as well as convenience in terms of location are aspects to consider when looking for a base in addition to promotional offers and other discounts on offer.
4. Explore Sightseeing Options
When it comes to spending one’s time in a meaningful manner during a Sigiriya holiday, there’s one sightseeing hub no visit to the ancient city would be complete without. The Sigiriya Rock Fortress, arguably Sri Lanka’s most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site is not a single attraction but a multi-faceted historic theme park of mammoth proportions. From the moat and water gardens that surround the 200m high rock to the frescoes and murals decorating the path leading to the summit, there’s much to explore and discover on a tour of the iconic site.
The Sigiriya Museum is a new point of interest in the vicinity of the palace among the clouds and features some of the most prized artefacts excavated from the heritage site. Featuring interactive showcases and audio-visual displays as well as religious relics, a tour of the venue is a must for all tourists based in Sigiriya. Other sightseeing options include the Pidurangala Temple and the Pidurangala Cave.
