Climbing Sigiriya Rock: Sri Lanka’s Lion Fortress Ruins
Arguably Sri Lanka’s most famous landmark, Sigiriya Rock is huge and imposing and almost mystical. Protruding about 180 metres straight up into the air, it does seem like there has been some kind of magic going on here. This is Sri Lanka’s cultural centre, surrounded by some of the country’s most impressive historical sights, lush rainforest, phenomenal views, and plenty of wildlife (some a little too cheeky for my liking).
The entrance fees for tourist attractions have sky-rocketed in recent years in Sri Lanka with many backpackers opting out of climbing Sigiriya Rock purely because of these fees. Many argue that nearby Pidurangala Rock is better but I disagree. We have actually climbed twice, and would I do it again? Yeah, I would, and I would go up Pidurangala again too. It’s such a beautiful part of the world that you just won’t get bored of the views!
This mini guide to climbing Sigiriya Rock will give you all the info you need to decide if it is right for you and then go to see and climb the eighth wonder of the world!
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click and purchase through a link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. And if you do choose to do this, THANK YOU so much for supporting us! It means that we can continue to create content for you guys. Full disclaimer here.
What is Sigiriya Rock?
The science and history bit. The hardened magma from a once active volcano is what has created this spectacular 180m tall granite rock. Back in 477 AD, the ruling King Kasyapa had a palace/citadel built on top of the rock. When he was defeated in 495 AD, it fell into disrepair and was then used to house Buddhist monks. Today it is protected by UNESCO and visitors can walk the entire site from the parks and gardens at the base of the rock to the famous lion stairs to the ruins on top.
The Climb
There are over 1200 steps to get to the top and while it maybe sounds a lot, it’s not a really taxing climb. The steps are pretty well-maintained, but do become a tad hairy once you get to the final section; they go from being sturdy stone stairs to a metal staircase pinned to the side of the rock – just try not to look at the structure too much! The killer though, is the heat that obviously makes it much tougher. The entire gardens, staircase and ruins on top are fully exposed so make sure you bring plenty of sun protection.
Controversial Dual Priced Tickets
Tickets for foreigners cost 35 USD while tickets for locals cost 120 LKR (0.4 USD). It’s a source of much debate online at the moment, not just because of the high price tag but also because of the significantly lower price tag for locals. Yep, we’re talking about tickets being nearly 90x more expensive for foreigners. Many backpackers are even avoiding visiting Sigiriya Rock because tickets are just too expensive.
Tickets can be bought at the desk on site and can be paid in cash or by card.
Check the Sigiriya website for most up-to-date prices.
Is it worth it?
I would genuinely say yes. As someone who travels the world trying to keep the overall spend low, the thought of throwing $35 on one entrance fee makes me super uncomfortable. But there are some things that are worth the money and this is one of those things. The whole site is impressive and so iconic, it would be such a shame to miss it!
However, if you are on a tight budget and $35 is just not going to work, you can still get astounding views without the huge price tag! Not too far from Sigiriya Rock is Pidurangala Rock. It doesn’t have so much of the historical significance, but this short and adventurous hike will get you stunning panoramic views over Sigiriya and its famous rock.
Things to Do at Sigiriya Rock
Have a wander through the small museum near the ticket desk and then head out towards the rock through the well-maintained water gardens. There are pools of water in amongst greenery with mighty Sigiriya looming over.
Start your climb up the steps to the first section where you can wander around and see the views across the jungle. This is where the lion steps begin – you can still see the huge lion paws either side of the steps in the photo below.
The stone steps then turn into metal steps until you reach the very top. At the top, you will see the ruins of the old palace – walls, pools, steps.
Take your time exploring and seeing the jungle views from every possible angle; it really is spectacular. On the way down, the path will lead you past some ancient paintings of scantily clad women on the rock face and the ‘mirror wall’. Supposedly, the wall was buffed and polished to enable the king to see his reflection when he walked past. Nowadays you can see some of the shininess, but it definitely doesn’t have the full mirror effect.
We spent about three hours wandering around the whole site and taking plenty of photos.
Savvy Traveller Pro Tips 🇱🇰
After exploring Sri Lanka for two months, these are our favourite booking tools that we couldn’t travel without!
Beware of the Wildlife
Monkeys at tourist sites are a problem, but a problem of our own making (as in us, the people!) They have become way too comfortable with people, being fed, and having photos taken of them. AND even worse, they can be ferocious; so don’t tease them or get close to them.
When we entered Sigiriya Rock, a monkey ran at me like it was going to jump up on me and I had to shout and scare it away. To enter the gardens, there is a narrow passageway and there were monkeys sat on top of it hissing at us. We felt super vulnerable here because there was no escape and no other way to enter. I ended up carrying a stick with me for this first portion because I felt things could have gotten nasty with those monkeys. Things didn’t end up getting nasty but these monkeys had obviously been pissed off or were just having a bad day. The moral of the story is just to steer clear.
If monkeys don’t scare you off, what about wasps? Sigiriya Rock seems to house some monster wasps and you’ll see signs on the route up to the top warning visitors about them. When we first visited in 2018, they had an actual medical assistance tent set up by the Red Cross to treat people who got stung, but when we visited again in 2024 the tent had gone. So I guess the situation isn’t so bad now? Anyway the signs just mention to be silent, so don’t be too rowdy and disturb the wasps! We never actually saw any wasps when we visited on either occasion so maybe it’s just a ploy to keep the tourists in check 😉
How to Get to Sigiriya
Pretty much bang in the centre of Sri Lanka, Sigiriya is not too tough to get to from almost anywhere in the country. Public buses connect Sigiriya to nearby Dambulla, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Trincomalee. If you are further south in Sri Lanka, getting yourself to Kandy first is your best bet as this is the biggest transport hub in the central highlands, and then you’re already half way there.
Sigiriya does not have a train station, but Habarana train station is only 15km away. You can prebook tickets on 12Go to Habarana and then just jump in a tuktuk or taxi to get you the final 15km.
If you’re on the west/south coast (Colombo, Negombo, Galle, Bentota) and you’re looking for a day trip to Sigiriya, they do exist! Instead of faffing with multiple buses and trains, you can book through Get Your Guide to visit Sigiriya, Dambulla Caves as a day trip. Add a bit of Sri Lankan culture, history, and nature to your beach holiday!
Where to Stay in Sigiriya
La Dolce Vita (£)
One of our absolute favourite places we stayed in the whole of Sri Lanka is right here in Sigiriya!
La Dolce Vita is a lovely little spot with maybe four or five rooms and a pool surrounded by palm trees tucked away from the main road. The rooms are beautifully decorated, the pool arena is serene, and there is a restaurant – definitely go for the Sri Lankan breakfast.
The guys who run the place are friendly and really helpful, and they have a cute labrador called Bruno who makes sure all guests enjoy their stay!
🛏️ Plan your Stay 🛏️
Where’s Next?
Make sure you hike up Pidurangala Rock and see the Dambulla Cave Temples before you leave Sigiriya!
Looking for more culture and history? Head north and away from the classic tourist route up to the ancient UNESCO Buddhist site of Anuradhapura.
Fancy some beautiful beaches instead? Trincomalee is only about two hours away!
If you’re heading further south, make your way to Kandy first for the best bus connections.
Found this post helpful?
If you would like to support us, buy us a coffee at the link below.
No pressure!
We really do like coffee, though 😉
Like it? Save it!
