Sigiriya Lion Rock & Dabulla golden temple
A 5th-century palace on top of a 200-metre rock, and it's exactly as dramatic as that sounds.
King Kashyapa built his fortress-palace on top of this rock in the 5th century, and what's left — the giant lion's paw gateway, the frescoed 'cloud maidens', the mirror wall covered in thousand-year-old graffiti, the water gardens at the base — still makes this the single most-photographed site in Sri Lanka. It's a proper climb, so we go early before the heat and the crowds.
What's included
- Early start to beat the heat and the crowds
- The frescoes and the ancient mirror wall
- The water gardens at the base, often skipped by bus tours
- Easily combined with Dambulla's cave temple nearby
- Visit the UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Golden Temple of Dambulla.
Day by day
The rock, early
Very early pickup for a cooler climb, two to three hours at the site including the water gardens, breakfast afterward, return by early afternoon.
Every trip is quoted individually based on group size, season, and vehicle — send an enquiry and I'll get back to you with the details.
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