Near the rock
First-timersGuesthouses on the main road, a walk from the gate.
Sigiriya village guide
Things To Do In Sigiriya
A rock fortress rising two hundred metres from the jungle plain, with frescoes and a lion's-paw gateway, at the heart of the Cultural Triangle of cave temples, ruined cities and elephant herds.
48
Hostels in the city
9.2
Average, from 6,412 reviews
~200 m
The rock
5th c.
Kasyapa's palace
1982
Joins UNESCO
The lion rock
In the fifth century, King Kasyapa built a palace on top of Sigiriya, a sheer granite rock rising from the plain, with frescoes on its walls, gardens at its foot and a gateway through a giant lion's paws. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sigiriya is also the base for the Cultural Triangle: the Dambulla cave temples, the ruined city of Polonnaruwa and the elephant gatherings of Minneriya.
Two or three days is right.
Where to stay
Sigiriya village is spread along a few roads around the rock, with guesthouses among the paddy fields. Stay on the main road near the rock to walk to the gate, or on the road towards Pidurangala for quieter places and an easy sunrise climb.
Pidurangala road
QuietAmong paddy fields, close to the sunrise climb.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 11 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Sigiriya
Climb Sigiriya Rock as soon as the gates open in the morning, before the heat and the tour buses. The route climbs about 1,200 steps: through the water gardens, past the frescoes of the cloud maidens painted in a sheltered gallery fifteen centuries ago, along the Mirror Wall, scratched with visitors' poems from the eighth century on, and through the giant paws of the lion gateway to the palace ruins on the summit. Foreign adults pay USD 35, which includes the museum. Allow two to three hours.
Pidurangala Rock, next door, is the cheaper alternative and has the best view of Sigiriya itself. The climb takes about forty minutes, past a temple and a reclining Buddha, with a scramble over boulders at the end. Go for sunrise and bring a torch.
The Dambulla Cave Temple, half an hour away, is five caves filled with Buddha statues and painted ceilings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Polonnaruwa, the medieval capital, is best explored by bicycle; its highlight is the Gal Vihara, four Buddhas carved from a single granite wall.
From roughly July to October, hundreds of elephants gather on the grasslands around Minneriya and Kaudulla reservoirs, one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants anywhere; jeep safaris leave in the afternoon.
Free things
Free things to do in Sigiriya
The village and the paddy fields around it are free to cycle, and you can see Sigiriya Rock from the outer moat and the road without a ticket.
Sigiriya Wewa, the reservoir beside the rock, is good for sunset. Pidurangala is not free, but at around LKR 1,000 (about €3) it costs a fraction of the main rock and has the better view.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Sigiriya
Food in Sigiriya means guesthouse cooking: a rice-and-curry dinner with a dozen small dishes, often made with jackfruit, pumpkin, dhal and curry leaves from the garden, is one of the best meals of a Sri Lanka trip. Order in the afternoon so the cook can prepare it.
Village restaurants on the main road do kottu, fried rice and hoppers, and fruit stalls sell king coconut, which is the best thing to drink after the climb.
A meal is €3 to €6.
Nightlife
Going out in Sigiriya
Sigiriya has no nightlife to speak of. Evenings are spent at guesthouses, and most people go to bed early for a sunrise climb.
A few restaurants on the main road serve beer.
A beer is €2.50 to €4. Every full-moon day is a Poya holiday, when alcohol sales are banned and most bars close or serve only quietly; check the calendar before planning a night out.
Getting around
Getting around Sigiriya
Dambulla is the transport hub, about thirty minutes away by bus or tuk-tuk, with buses to Kandy (two to two and a half hours), Colombo (about four hours), Anuradhapura and Trincomalee.
The nearest station is Habarana, about twenty minutes away by tuk-tuk, on the line to Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Around Sigiriya, rent a bicycle or scooter, or take tuk-tuks; guesthouses arrange jeeps for Minneriya and drivers for day trips to Polonnaruwa and Dambulla.
Costs
What Sigiriya costs
Sigiriya is mid-priced, but the sights are expensive. Dorms start around €7 and a careful day is €20 to €30, plus entry fees.
Sigiriya Rock is USD 35 for foreign adults and Pidurangala about €3. Dambulla Cave Temple and Polonnaruwa have their own tickets, and a jeep safari at Minneriya costs several thousand rupees for the jeep plus park fees. Sharing a jeep with others cuts the cost.
The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR); prices here are euro equivalents. Tickets priced in dollars are paid in rupees at the day's rate. Take out cash in Dambulla.
Safety
Staying safe in Sigiriya
Sigiriya is safe, but the climb needs care. Start early to avoid the midday heat and carry water. Wild hornets nest on the rock face and occasionally swarm; staff sometimes close the upper sections, so keep quiet near the nests and follow their instructions.
Wild elephants roam the roads and fields around Sigiriya and Habarana, especially at dusk. Do not walk or cycle on the roads after dark, and never approach them.
At the Dambulla temple, cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats.
Emergency: 119 police, 1990 ambulance (Suwa Seriya, free). Tourist Police: 1912.
Day trips from Sigiriya
The painted caves, the medieval capital and the elephant gathering.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Five caves of Buddha statues and painted ceilings, UNESCO-listed.
Polonnaruwa
The medieval capital, by bicycle. The Gal Vihara Buddhas are the highlight.
Minneriya
Hundreds of elephants gather on the grasslands from about July to October.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The Gathering of elephants at Minneriya peaks in August and September.
August to September
The Gathering
Minneriya
Hundreds of elephants.
June
Poson
Cultural Triangle
Buddhist festival.
Hostels
Where to stay in Sigiriya
The top-rated places to stay in Sigiriya right now, live from Hostelworld.
Horizon Resort & Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Roy's Villa
Dorms from €27 a night
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Nalin and Song Hostel (Sigiriya Hostel)
Dorms from €13 a night
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Sigiri Serenity Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Another World Hostel
Dorms from €7 a night
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The Travellers Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
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Dinna Nature Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Mango Tree Home Stay
Dorms from €3 a night
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Tree House Hostel Sigiriya
Dorms from €11 a night
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Sustainable
Funk Bunks - Sigiriya
Dorms from €18 a night
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One More Night Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
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When to go
January to September is best here, drier than the south-west in the monsoon.
Jan
Good
Feb
Dry
Mar
Hot
Apr
Hot
May
Good
Jun
Poson
Jul
Good
Aug
Elephant gathering
Sep
Gathering
Oct
Rainy
Nov
Rainy
Dec
Rainy
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes entry fees.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Sigiriya travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Sigiriya worth the ticket?
For most people, yes: the frescoes, the lion's paws and the summit are unique. If USD 35 is too much, Pidurangala next door gives the better view of the rock for about €3.
When should I climb?
As soon as the gates open in the morning, before the heat and the tour buses arrive. Allow two to three hours.
What is the Gathering?
From about July to October, as other water dries up, hundreds of elephants gather on the grasslands around Minneriya and Kaudulla reservoirs. It is one of the largest gatherings of Asian elephants in the world.
How do I get there?
By bus via Dambulla, thirty minutes away, which has buses from Kandy and Colombo. The nearest station is Habarana.
How many days do you need?
Two or three: one for the rock and Pidurangala, one for Dambulla and Polonnaruwa, and one for a safari.
When is the best time to visit?
January to September. The Cultural Triangle is drier than the south-west during the May to September monsoon, but rainier from October to December.
Are there hornets?
Yes, nests on the rock face occasionally swarm. Staff close sections when they are active; keep quiet and follow their instructions.
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