While quarantining in Sri Lanka, we had hoped to do a few tourist activities. However, those activities were limited and adhered to strict requirements. One requirement was to have a certified driver at all times - you were by no means allowed to leave the car. The second was scheduling an approved appointment for said tourist activity. There was a list of about 13 activities we could do in the whole country and maybe 5 were in the region we were staying. I was disappointed not to see or stay at the tea plantations, but maybe next time. So, we opted for Sigiriya Rock and Polonnuwara, both located a couple hours drive of Dambulla. They did not disappoint!
Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage site located near Dambulla, which itself looks to be an interesting town. We paused on the way to see a giant Buddha at an 800 year old temple and where I think was the entrance to the Dambulla (which was not open at this time). Our driver explained some of the ideaology behind Buddhism, including the rainbow flag and what each color represents. White - purity. Red - wisdom. Blue -
confidence. Yellow - holiness. Orange - aura. Our drivers were typically encouraged not to speak to reduce any possible Covid transmissions, but it was nice when he did speak up on occasion. Otherwise, it would be a long, quiet ride.
A little further down the road and we came upon the nearly empty parking area for Sigiriya. We had opted for an early start time and our appointment was scheduled for 9:00 am. Our guide was waiting for us (I forget his name!) and he was awesome. He said he typically had guided tours a day and now this was only his second one in a month. The tourist industry has been hit so hard. So, Luke, me and our guide started to make our way through the grounds towards the impressive rock. I honestly did not know much about this site before I arrived except that it was a
Sigiriya was a royal fortress / palace constructed in the late 5th century by King Kashyapa, a man who seemed to both amuse and impress our guide. He was the elder son of the king, but was son of a concubine, while the heir, his
younger brother, was the son of the consort. He later overthrew his father, eventually executing him and exiled his brother, and then created this fortress.
I assumed the majority of the ruins were on top, but there were quite a few things to see at the base. The first area we noted was the impressive moat surrounding Then we continued walking through the gardens, which are among the oldest landscaped gardens in the world. Sri Lanka obviously does not lack for rain and they had an impressive system of terraced gardens and baths. It was here that the King would sit on a throne and watch numerous, beautiful naked women bathe for him. Further up were other terraced locations, seeming more for water retention and agriculture (I think). And apparently a hydraulics system which still works today.
We continued and started to climb up the first steps towards the tall We passed a group of 3 tourists at the beginning who down - other than that, aside from workers, we had the to ourselves. So, it was extremely peaceful, though quickly starting to get hot, with humidity! There were
some impressive stairs, a few flat areas with decent views and benches shaded by trees, before you started the real climb! It was a mixture between some of the original stone steps, refurbished brick steps, and metal stairs with railings. Not an easy climb, but very He told us that in times, you can even pay a couple of guys to carry you up! They each take you by an arm, and carry you up as there are no elevators. I cannot even imagine that job....
After encountering a couple making their way down (the only other people we saw that day), we made it to the next point of interest: The Lion Gate. The rock is named after the Lion and this is the main, most impressive of all the gates, with the Lion paws at the entrance to the main stairs.
