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Experience the best of Sigiriya

Sigiriya is a village in Sri Lanka's dry central plains, dominated by a huge rock fortress with palace ruins, frescoes and gardens.

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Sigiriya Rock rises almost two hundred metres out of the forest plain. In the fifth century King Kashyapa built a palace on top and a city around it, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The climb passes the Mirror Wall, a polished surface scratched with ancient verses, frescoes of women in a sheltered pocket of the cliff, and a gateway shaped like the paws of a lion. Water gardens and boulder gardens lie at the foot.

Pidurangala Rock, opposite, offers a view back to Sigiriya. The cave temples of Dambulla, with painted ceilings and rows of Buddha statues, lie about seventeen kilometres south-west. Minneriya National Park has gatherings of elephants in the dry months, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura, ancient capitals, are within reach, and Kandy lies to the south. Village trips go by ox cart and canoe.

Rice and curry is the daily meal, with dhal, jackfruit and coconut sambol on the side. Kiribath, milk rice, hoppers and kottu roti, chopped flatbread stir-fried with vegetables, are the local favourites, and king coconut is sold at roadside stalls as the drink for a hot day on the plain.

  • 5 skip-the-line tickets
  • Free cancellation on 98% of experiences
  • Day trips to Negombo

Top experiences in Sigiriya

Day trips from Sigiriya

51

Landmarks and attractions in Sigiriya

6

Guided tours in Sigiriya

60

Walking and bike tours in Sigiriya

8

Food and drink experiences in Sigiriya

11

Outdoor and adventure activities in Sigiriya

13

Nature and wildlife tours in Sigiriya

47

Desert and safari experiences in Sigiriya

26

Go beyond Sigiriya

  1. Anuradhapura · 59 km

    Ruwanwelisaya

    14 hr4.91k reviewsfrom $19
  2. Anuradhapura · 59 km

    Mihintale

    4 days4.9478 reviewsfrom $31
  3. Kandy · 75 km

    Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)

    7 days4.911k reviewsfrom $5
  4. Kandy · 75 km

    Alagalla Mountain Range

    2 daysfrom $275
  5. Nuwara Eliya · 112 km

    Gregory Lake

    7 days4.93k reviewsfrom $11
  6. Negombo · 128 km

    Negombo Beach

    10 days4.92k reviewsfrom $25
  7. Negombo · 128 km

    Negombo Lagoon

    10 hr4.91k reviewsfrom $15
  8. Colombo · 154 km

    Gangaramaya Temple

    6 hr4.97k reviewsfrom $15
  9. Colombo · 154 km

    Galle Face Green

    5–6 hr4.95k reviewsfrom $14
  10. Udawalawa · 170 km

    Udawalawe National Park

    10–12 hr4.96k reviewsfrom $6
  11. Bentota · 190 km

    Kosgoda Sea Turtle Conservation Project

    2 days4.91k reviewsfrom $5
  12. Jaffna · 206 km

    Nallur Kandaswamy Temple (Nallur Kovil)

    9 days4.941 reviewsfrom $38

Questions about Sigiriya

What is there to do in Sigiriya?
We list 210 experiences in Sigiriya. The largest groups are day trips (60), city tours (6).
What is the most popular experience in Sigiriya?
By number of traveller reviews it is "Organic cooking class sigiriya (kumara & family)", rated 5.0 out of 5 from 721 reviews.
How long do tours and tickets in Sigiriya take?
The typical experience in Sigiriya lasts about 4.5 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 8.5 hours.
Can I cancel a booking in Sigiriya?
The operator lists free cancellation on 98% of the 210 experiences we hold for Sigiriya. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.

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