This is the second post on our trip to Sri Lanka. We didn’t have much activity on the first day. So, we decided to start our second day early. We planned for the climb to Sigiriya and so, we woke up early and got ready. The plan was to start the climb early so as to beat the sun.

Sigiriya rock:

Sigiriya lion fortress, as it is called, is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is a must-visit place for anyone coming to Sri Lanka. As per the history, it was the capital of King Kasyapa. The name comes from Sinhagiri, a lion rock which was built as a gateway to the structure. Yet, the lion’s face is not visible today, but one can still see the legs. The path leading to the fortress itself is beautifully surrounded by water bodies and gardens. The climb to the top is challenging. Still, the effort is worth it because the view from the top is breathtaking and can’t be missed. Don’t forget to carry a water bottle as the climb is quite exhausting. Also, don’t forget to visit the paintings which are located inside a cave, having its separate staircase.

We took around 45 minutes to reach the top. We rested for some time by appreciating the surroundings and its beautiful views. On the way down, we went to the cave and saw the fresco paintings there. Although, most of them were damaged, they still looked beautiful. The shops for eatables were all open by the time we reached the out gate. We quickly hopped onto our car and reached the hotel. We freshened up, had our breakfast and checked out from the hotel. We proceeded with our onward journey to Kandy where we were supposed to spend our night.

On the way to Kandy, we visited the Dambulla cave temple.

Dambulla cave temple:

It is a world heritage site and is the largest cave temple complex of Sri Lanka. Also known as the golden Dambulla cave, it is an important Buddhist site. At the downhill, there is a golden Buddhist statue; and to visit the cave temple, one needs to climb uphill. At the top, there are five caves with life sized statues of Buddha, escorted by the figurines of Bodhisattva. There are statues of Vishnu and Ganesha along with those of a few Sri Lankan kings. The place is beautiful and is well preserved.

After visiting the temple, we continued with our journey to Kandy. On the way, we visited a spice garden and learned about the various spices. We earlier visited such gardens at other places too. If one is interested, a lot of plant-based products which are usually sold here, can be bought. There are products dealing with specific issues like controlling of hormone fluctuations, acne removal etc. We liked a coffee-based perfume and bought it. There was a restaurant attached to the garden, where we had our lunch. Overall, the place was decent.

On listening about the famous cultural show at Kandy Lake Club, we decided to give it a try. The show usually begins at 5 PM and usually lasts for an hour. We reached Kandy just 15 minutes before the show time. Our driver was kind enough to get us the tickets and quickly take us to the seating area.

We sat in our designated seats and watched the cultural performance, which attracted a packed hall of audience. The show was good and gave us a glimpse of Sri Lankan culture. After witnessing it, we rode back to our hotel, had our dinner and rested for the night.

The other details of the tour will be covered in the next posts.

Points to note:

• Dambulla entry ticket: 2000 Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR)
• Sigiriya entry ticket: US$ 20 for SAARC foreigners and US$ 35 for Non-SAARC foreigners
• Cultural show entry ticket: 2000 LKR per adult
• Hotel at Kandy: Hotel Rivendell
• Photography is generally allowed but in a few places like caves with fresco paintings, flashes are not allowed. Also, taking selfies with one’s back to Buddha is prohibited. One must be mindful of the written instructions and follow them.