Highlights - Essential Info - Itineraries - History - Hotels
- Beaches of Sri Lanka
- Galle
- Kandy
- Nuwara Eliya & the Tea Country
- Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage
- Polonnaruwa & Anuradhapura
- Sigiriya & Dambulla
- Yala National Park
Sigiriya & Dambulla
The Rock Fortress of Sigiriya is a World Heritage Site and one of the most extraordinary and dramatic of all the world's great fortresses.
Fearing an invasion by his half brother, King Kashapa began building this supposedly impregnable fortress in 477 AD. Having fallen into disrepair and become swamped by the undergrowth over the succeeding thousand years, it was only discovered during the British colonial era.
The Lion Rock rises 600 feet from the jungle floor and upon it was constructed a subtle blend of fortress and palace and a number of wonderful features can still be enjoyed such as the 'Heavenly Maiden' frescoes, water gardens, moat & ramparts and Mirroe Wall.
The remarkable cave temple of Dambulla is another World Heritage Site and an archaeological treasure. It dates back to King Valagam Bahu who initially sought refuge in the caves in the 1st Century BC, but on regaining his throne he dedicated the caves to the monks and converted them into this extraordinary rock temple. Spread over a series of five caves are more than 150 murals of the Buddha as well as a carving of the reclining Buddha made out of the rock, which spans over 14 metres. There are over 2000 sq. metres of paintings on the walls and ceilings making this a truly remarkable spectacle.
Our preferred hotels close to Sigiriya & Dambulla include:
Elephant Corridor
Vil Uyana
Cinnamon Lodge
Heritance Kandalama
Deer Park Hotel
