Climb Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka: Essential Guide to Visiting Lion Rock

Benjamin Juster

3 years ago

Sigiriya takes you back into a lost ancient kingdom, and epitomizes the exotic beauty of Sri Lanka. If you want to learn how to get to and climb Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka for yourself, this guide will offer everything you need.

An ancient fortress built into a huge monolith in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle, Sigiriya Fort (otherwise known as Lion Rock) is the site of a lost palace inspired by the mythological Buddhist city of Alakamanda, a city of gods reaching into the heavens.

Sigiriya also has a scandalous history (we’ll go into more detail about that later on).

Contents

Climb Sigiriya Rock: An Essential Sri Lanka Site
- Before You Go
Who Built Sigiriya?
- We Need to Talk About Kashyapa
- How Kashyapa Came to Build Sigiriya
How to Visit Sigiriya Rock Sri Lanka
- Where to Stay in Dambulla
- How to Get from Dambulla to Sigiriya
  - Tuktuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya
  - Bus from Dambulla to Sigiriya
The Cost of Sigiriya Rock
Sigiriya Tour Packages
The Lion Rock Sigiriya Visiting Hours
Visiting Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
- How High is Sigiriya?
How to Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress
- Climbing Sigiriya Rock: A Shortcut to Avoid the Lines
- Things to Notice as You Hike Lion Rock
  - Mirror Wall
- Grotto Frescoes
Reaching the Top of Lions Rock Sigiriya
Things to Know for Visiting Sigiriya Sri Lanka
- There isn’t really a dry season in Sigiriya Sri Lanka.
- Sigiriya Rock has about 1200 steps.
- It can get quite busy.
- You may not be allowed to photograph the frescoes.
What to Bring to Sigiriya Lion Rock
Climbing Sigiriya Rock Sri Lanka: Final Thoughts
More Info for Your Sri Lanka Trip
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Climb Sigiriya Rock: An Essential Sri Lanka Site

While planning our own 10-day Sri Lanka itinerary (a must-see reference if you’re planning your own Sri Lanka trip), climbing Sigiriya Rock was at the top of our list.

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lion Rock in Sigiriya is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka and certainly one of its top icons.

This guide will detail how to visit Sigiriya and experience this iconic Lion Rock in Sri Lanka for yourself.

We will dive into:

how to get to Sigiriya
where to stay
historical information about Sigiriya
Sigiriya opening time (and closing time)
cost of Sigiriya
height of Sigiriya
how to climb Sigiriya
a shortcut for climbing Sigiriya and beating the lines
what to look out for
what you need to bring

…and more. So let’s get on with it!

Before You Go

Look at the Sri Lanka Railways routes to plan your train legs
Book your flight to Sri Lanka
Arrange your airport pickup
Protect your travel plans with trip insurance
Read our guide on how to score the cheapest flights
Check phone plan for international data or get unlimited Data eSIMs for Sri Lanka
Review our carry-on packing list
Learn everything you need to know about traveling through airport security
Pack the right travel cameras and comfortable travel clothes

Who Built Sigiriya?

The fascinating historical legacy of Sigiriya proves there’s a lot more to Lions Rock than stunning views. Its history is a story of betrayal, murder, and extravagance.

Once upon a time, the area we know as Sigiriya was a lush forest, molded and shaped by storms and landslides into a hill. It was this hill that King Kashyapa selected to become Sigiriya, the site of his capital and unusually extravagant palace.

Now, King Kashyapa ain’t your average dude.

We Need to Talk About Kashyapa

Kashyapa was the first born son of a king, but his mother was a concubine. So, he was tossed aside like chopped liver and told he couldn’t inherit the throne.

Well, Kashyapa most definitely did not take that well. He staged a coup, snatched that throne, and then, had his father buried alive in his prison cell. Yikes.

But, this plan kinda backfired. Turns out, when you viciously have your dad murdered, your Buddhist subjects don’t exactly leap over the moon with joy.

How Kashyapa Came to Build Sigiriya

Rejected by his people, Kashyapa moved his royal capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya. And, since he already lost the approval of his people, Kashyapa pretty much did whatever the heck he wanted.

The King shrugged off the Buddhist principle of avoiding self-indulgence and went to town designing the most extravagant kingdom in the land.

We’re talking Sigiriya water gardens, pools, and fountains to the nines, frescoes of women, and a ginormous polished Mirror Wall so he could admire himself. The palace entrance was guarded by a towering stone lion—the very lion that gives Sigiriya its nickname of Lion Rock. Time has taken victory over the lion, but its paws still valiantly stand guard today.

The retaliation that Kashyapa feared eventually came to a head, with his royal brother raising an army to take the King down. The jig was up. Kashyapa slit his own throat before anyone else could get to him.

After the King’s death, the palace was deserted. Buddhist monks took over it, using Sigiriya as a monastery until the 14th century.

How to Visit Sigiriya Rock Sri Lanka

Where is Sigiriya?

You’ll find Lions Rock Sigiriya in the Sri Lankan Cultural Triangle (named for its concentration of cultural and historical sites), near the town of Dambulla.

Dambulla is the nearest major town to Sigiriya, and it is quite easy to get a train or bus there. Therefore, many visitors choose to stay in Dambulla, as it is easy to reach from Colombo by train or bus.

Dambulla is also home to the Royal Cave Temple and Golden Temple, making it a convenient base to explore the area and visit Sigiriya.

If you have a little more time on your itinerary, you might choose to go an extra stop on the train station and stay in Habarana Village, a popular village conveniently located to several other UNESCO World Heritage sites.

There are also many Sigiriya hotels and lodges near Lion Rock, and some are even in walking distance! You won’t have any trouble reaching the Sigiriya Lion Rock from Dambulla or the immediate area.

Since most people who visit Sigiriya stay in Dambulla, we will focus on the Dambulla lodging and transportation options. The map below will also show you some Sigiriya hotels very conveniently located to Lion Rock.

Booking.com

Where to Stay in Dambulla

Budget:

New Peacock Resort ($9 and up/night)
Green Edge Residences ($11 and up/night)
* Shashin Lake Resort ($17 and up/night)

Mid-range:

* Sigiriya Kingdom Gate Dambulla ($23 and up/night) — spectacular views!
Sundaras Resort & Spa Dambulla ($36 and up/night)

Splurge:

Sigiriana Resort by Thilanka ($54 and up/night)
Pelwehera Village Resort ($71 and up/night)
* Jetwing Lake ($221 and up/night)

How to Get from Dambulla to Sigiriya

Sigiriya Fort is only about 20 minutes from Dambulla, and is accessible by tuktuk or bus.

Tuktuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya

We arranged for tuktuk transportation from Dambulla to Sigiriya directly with our homestay, but you can also hail one down on the street. Our tuktuk driver drove us to Sigiriya, waited for us, and then drove us home. On the way home, he also took us to the Dambulla trash dump to see wild elephants, a unique and unexpected experience.

A tuktuk is the fastest, most comfortable and most convenient option. The route is scenic, and you have full control if you want to add any other stops, like we did.

You can also leave any time you choose, which allows you the most flexibility when visiting and climbing Sigiriya Rock.

Bus from Dambulla to Sigiriya

Alternatively, you can take a bus from Dambulla to Sigiriya.

At 40 rupees per person for a one way ticket (about 52 US cents), a bus is by far the cheaper option. However, the ride is long and the hours are limited.

The first bus to depart from Dambulla to Sigiriya is at 6:45 am. The last bus to return back to Dambulla leaves at 6pm on weekdays, 5:30pm on Saturday, and 5pm on Sunday. However, besides those times, there is no fixed time table for buses. This means you could be waiting an hour or so at the bus stop before you’d be able to get a ride.

The bus ride takes approximately an hour, and will take you to a bus stop in Sigiriya only about 10 minutes from the ticket office.

While the bus option is much cheaper, the limited hours and long transportation time makes it extremely inconvenient, and not really a viable option for most travelers.

If you do have the time and want to save money, you can catch the bus at the Dambulla Main Bus Station about 300 meters south of the clock tower on Kandy Road.

The Cost of Sigiriya Rock

As a popular site for Sri Lanka tourism, the entrance fee into Sigiriya Sri Lanka is not cheap.

Like many of the other best places to visit in Sri Lanka, the price charged to foreigners is much higher than the local fee.

The rate you pay as a foreign visitor to Sigiriya Rock is $30 USD [~4400 Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR)], vs. a local price of 50 LKR (.34USD)!

While we fully recommend you climb Sigiriya Rock, you might also want to consider the adjacent Pidurangala Rock Hike, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Right across the Sigiriya, Pidurangala is free, and offers amazing views of Sigiriya.

Sigiriya Tour Packages

If you’d prefer having a tour guide arrange an entire Sigiriya tour package to make your visit to Lion Rock as easy and seamless as possible, there are a few options.

A Sigiriya tour package will certainly cost more than arranging a trip to Sigiriya on your own, but it will be all-inclusive, and might be a preferred option to those who have the money, but not the time.

For those looking for a Sigiriya day trip from Anuradhapura, this Sigiriya Day Tour will pick you up from your hotel in Anuradhapura. Your English-speaking guide will then escort you on your trip to Sigiriya. You will enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch, bullock cart ride, and boat ride in the cultural village of Dambulla. This Sigiriya day tour also includes a trip to the Dambulla Cave Temple and sunset viewing from Pidurangala Rock. The tour will then drop you back off at your Anuradhapura hotel.

For those looking for a Sigiriya day trip from Kandy, this Sigiriya Day Tour will pick you up from your hotel in Kandy. You’ll then venture on your trip to Sigiriya, spending more time appreciating the scenery. This tour includes lunch and a visit to the ancient capital of Polonnaruwa. At the end of the tour, your driver will drop you back off at your hotel in Kandy.

For those looking for a Sigiriya tour from Colombo, we know of two options.

This first Sigiriya tour from Colombo is a 2-day tour that takes you to first to Sigiriya, then to Habarana Village to see wild elephants, and the Giritale tank, an ancient reservoir. You’ll then head to the ancient ruins of Polonnaruwa Kingdom and Minneriya National Park, the largest gatheting of Asian elephants. Finally, you’ll visit the coastal area of Pasikudah to swim or snorkel on the white sands of Kalkudah Beach, before being taken back to Colombo. The tour requires a minimum of 4 people.

This second Sigiriya tour from Colombo is a 1-day tour. This Sigiriya day tour will pick you up at your hotel and then take you on your trip to Sigiriya. The tour includes lunch with the local villagers, a bullock cart ride, a cooking class, and a fishing boat ride on the lake. At the end of your tour, you’ll be dropped back off at your hotel in Colombo. This tour also requires a minimum of 4 people.

The Lion Rock Sigiriya Visiting Hours

Sigiriya opening time is 6:30 am, and closing time is 5:30 pm, every day. Last entrance is 5 pm.

Visiting Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

After entering the park, the path takes you down a stroll through the beautiful and expansive Sigiriya water gardens, some of the oldest landscaped gardens in the world.

Taking in the beauty of the path, lined with ponds and terraces and the view of Lion Rock Sigiriya square in the middle, and snapping a few postcard perfect shots from this vantage point are some essential things to do in Sigiriya when you first enter.

How High is Sigiriya?

Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka is a big boy alright—so steep its top hangs over its sides.

The height of Sigiriya is 1,144 feet (349 meters) above sea level, and about 600 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding area.

How to Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress

The Sigiriya Rock hike takes you up more than 1200 steps.

To hike Lion Rock, you should be reasonably fit, but you definitely don’t have to be very experienced in hiking or climbing at all.

The Sigiriya Rock climb can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. However, when we went, the Sigiriya stairs were so busy that there’s no way it could take any less than an hour.

Midway up the Sigiriya stairs there is an area where you can stop and rest, if you need.

Climbing Sigiriya Rock: A Shortcut to Avoid the Lines

As one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka, we knew that the ancient Sigiriya rock fortress would be full of many other visitors, so be prepared. When we went in December, high season in Sri Lanka, Lion Rock in Sigiriya was packed.

The long line up the steep main entrance to the base of the Sigiriya rock fortress turned us off, and we instead decided to weave around and explore the rest of the site of the Sigiriya Lion Rock before climbing.

In doing so, we stumbled upon a shortcut on the right side that allowed us to join in near the front of the line! We made our way up some rock-hewn steps to wait in line for the metal stairs and pathway that would take us up to the Sigiriya rock fortress.

Things to Notice as You Hike Lion Rock

Don’t rush up to the top! There are several stops along the Sigiriya Rock climb that are worth your time. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the Sigiriya water gardens, the Sigiriya cave frescoes, and of course, the paws of the guardian lion himself.

Here are some things to notice as you climb Sigiriya Rock:

Mirror Wall

A short way up this path is the Mirror Wall, which is the highly polished portion of the rock that King Kashyapa had made for his own self-admiration (read the history section above!). Except now it’s been covered in hundreds of years of graffiti.

Grotto Frescoes

The frescoes, found in a grotto partway up the climb, constitute a major highlight of the Sigiriya rock fortress.

To get to the grotto at Sigiriya Sri Lanka, you ascend a tightly-wound spiral staircase—if you’re scared of heights, don’t look down! Sweeping, delicately illustrated frescoes of women from over a thousand years ago cover the walls of the grotto.

Stunning Jungle Views

Making your way up the Sigiriya rock fortress, the views onto the verdant jungle surrounding Sigiriya Sri Lanka really open up. Enjoying these views can help you forget the heat and crowds a bit.

Monkey Madness in Sri Lanka

The Sigiriya rock fortress is full of monkeys, fully capable of beckoning a gape or two of astonishment at their rather….questionable behavior at times.

Monkeys have a bad rep in Sri Lanka, and for good reason (we had been the victim of at least a few monkey food thefts).

Still it’s entertaining to monkey-watch from a distance at Sigiriya Sri Lanka. Just be sure to keep your food tucked away, and under no circumstances should you touch them! Yes, even if it’s an adorable baby monkey.

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The Paws of Lion Rock

The paws are the last relics of the guardian lion that King Kashyapa had built to guard his immaculate palace.

Passing the monumental lion’s paws of the Sigiriya rock fortress, the pathways hug the mountain tighter as elevation increases.

The crowds had started to thin out a bit because of the rain—plus one for rainy weather! We, however, had no plans to turn back. Our arrival to the top of Sigiriya Rock was paired with awe, and it was immediately easy to recognize why the Sigiriya rock fortress is named one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

Reaching the Top of Lions Rock Sigiriya

The view of the Sri Lankan landscape from the peak of the Sigiriya Lion Rock stunned us, encompassing miles and miles of forest, plains, and mountains.

The expansive view from the top of the Sigiriya rock fortress, combined with the busy cloud action that day, provided a feast for the eyes.

The palace buildings that once covered the top of Sigiriya Lion Rock have long since disappeared, and all that remains are their foundations and walls. For our trip, the rains of the season had made the foundations of the Sigiriya rock fortress into beautiful pools that day.

After a hot and sticky climb to the top of the Sigiriya rock fortress, the fresh breeze from on high hit the spot as we relaxed, soaking up the views from one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka. We could even see an elephant in a pond down past the bottom of the rock!

We spent about an hour on the top of the famous Sigiriya Rock Sri Lanka site.

Coming down from the Sigiriya Lion Rock fortress is much easier than climbing up, but we still felt hot in the heat of the day.

Things to Know for Visiting Sigiriya Sri Lanka

There isn’t really a dry season in Sigiriya Sri Lanka.

We visited the Sigiriya rock fortress in December—and while the weather is much cooler than summer (hard to imagine since it was still hot even in the winter!), it was very rainy.
If it rains when climbing Sigiriya Sri Lanka, care must be taken to avoid sliding on the slippery metal steps and pathways. Watch your step!

Sigiriya Rock has about 1200 steps.

Be prepared for some exercise, and bring enough water!

It can get quite busy.

The earlier you go, the better!
We were exhausted and got a late start when we went, and by the time we arrived, the rock was already pretty busy. Don’t forget: this is one of the best places to visit in Sri Lanka, so it will often be filled up!

You may not be allowed to photograph the frescoes.

Whether or not you’ll be able to photograph the grotto frescoes at Sigiriya Sri Lanka or not is up to the guard—we had no trouble at all, but have heard that other people were told not to. Either way, don’t use flash!

For a change of pace, plan a relaxing escape to Mirissa’s Secret Beach!

What to Bring to Sigiriya Lion Rock

Water. We love these reusable Collapsible Canteens that save a ton of space while traveling, and this water filter for providing safe drinking water no matter where you are. Check out our full review of these water filters and collapsible canteens for how to purify water anywhere in the world.
Snacks (you won’t find any for sale on-site). I personally love packing these dried pineapple bags.
The standard fixin’s for hot weather, such as sunglasses with UV protection (nothing too fancy in case you lose it or a monkey steals it!), a foldable sunhat, and travel-friendly sunblock
Good shoes for climbing steps (you don’t want to slip). We appreciate these Adidas Men’s Hiking Boots and Columbia Women’s Hiking Boots.
A rain jacket/poncho and/or travel umbrella if it’s meant to rain (you will most likely get soaked)
Cameras. Because it was rainy, Lauren left her DSLR at the guesthouse and only brought her GoPro and iPhone. Find out what budget travel cameras we recommend.