Sigiriya Itinerary
One Day in Sigiriya
A practical Sigiriya itinerary with times and what to skip.
Best for Travellers passing through on a Colombo-Trincomalee or Kandy-Anuradhapura route who only have one day to spare
Your Itinerary
Day 1 - Rock, Ruins, and Caves
Sigiriya Rock (Lion Rock)
Climb the 1,200-plus steps past the mirror wall, the 5th-century frescoes of the Sigiriya maidens, and the carved lion paws at the final staircase. Arrive at opening time to beat both the heat and the tour-bus crowds that build from mid-morning.
Lunch near Sigiriya entrance
Rice and curry buffet with 8-10 small dishes - dhal, pumpkin curry, pol sambol - at a local restaurant catering mostly to tourists but still reasonably priced.
Dambulla Cave Temple
Five caves carved into a granite outcrop hold over 150 Buddha statues and painted ceilings dating back more than 2,000 years. The climb up is shorter than Sigiriya's but still has around 350 steps, mostly in shade.
Other Sigiriya Itineraries
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