Sigiriya Hotels

The bulk of Sri Lanka’s heritage charm unfurls inordinately and spectacularly in the hilly, verdant Central Provinces. The green lung and heart of the country is the home of Ceylon tea and ancient city gems like Kandy, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, as well as the Golden Temple of Dambulla. Together, this singular ensemble of venerable hill stations, highlands wilderness and Sinhalese Buddhist monuments lures tourists from Colombo and the beach resorts that dot the south coast of the island.

Sigiriya, or Lion’s Rock, is a vital part of Sri Lanka’s UNESCO allure. The “Ancient City of Sigiriya” was the nation’s first World Heritage induction in 1982 (in a class with Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa). The Matale District rock fortress dates back to the late 5th century but experts believe the mountain monastery was active in prehistoric times. All told, the complex is a paragon of bygone architectural skill and artistry that effortlessly evokes awe. The small village that circles the granite summit provides for and lives off the domestic pilgrims and international tourists who amass at Sigiriya throughout the year.

SIGIRIYA RUNDOWN

The small, new Sigiriya Museum holds a number of special exhibits throughout the year and displays archaeological finds from the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

WHEN TO GO

The cool climate of hill country Sri Lanka provides sanctuary from Colombo and the coast. While still firmly within a tropical belt, Sigiriya’s leafy environs signal a welcome departure from the torrid capital.

That aside, the wet season can elicit chaos from May to July, as well as the months of December and January. Choppy conditions from heavy monsoon downpours make it difficult to flit about the Central Province.

The best time to visit then is from March to the middle of May. Temperatures, for the most part, run between 73°F (23°C) and 86°F (30°C).

GETTING AROUND

Rail travel in Sri Lanka is remarkably scenic. The route from Colombo to Kandy is a prime example. From Kandy most visitors take a bus or arrange private transport north to Sigiriya.

If you fly in to Sri Lanka, as most do, you can hire a taxi from Bandaranaike International Airport for the three hour trip to Central Province. The nascent rise of tourism to the island has made the journey inland more tiresome, however, with dense two-way traffic between Colombo and Kandy. Future infrastructure improvements may ease the passage some.

Sigiriya is tiny and easy to explore on foot.