Dambulla Cave Temple
Dambullah Cave Temple
As we reached the top, we were welcomed by friendly locals who offered us various items such as souvenirs, lotus flowers, and even guided tours. We eventually hired a guide to help us understand the significance of the place and as a way of supporting the locals.
Before entering the caves, we had to pay for the shoe-checking service. But once we entered, we were amazed at the intricate details of the temples inside.
Our guide was a knowledgeable local who shared fascinating information about the site. It turned out to be a great experience that we didn’t expect to have.
Buddhist Monks first carved a cave out to create a monastery. It was considered the largest and the most impressive cave, and it was amazing to see intricate paintings and larger-than-life Buddha statues.
Visitors are advised to dress modestly and cover their shoulders and knees.
After the tour, we learned from our guide about the difficult situations faced by the local community. We gave a donation, but he hinted that it might not be enough.
Other than that, it was a calm and peaceful hike up and down. Just also take caution against the monkeys playing and looking for food.
On our way back, we were going ahead to Sigiriya Rock Fortress and were hoping we could catch the sunset.
But we were a little too late… the gate has just been closed two minutes before we arrived.
We ended up finding a good place to eat and a nice place to stay. As we have already been facing a lot of blockages the whole day, the streak continues. There were very few options for food. A lot of stores were closed too because they did not have enough fuel to get their supplies from the market and to cook food to serve. We did manage to get local food but the options were very limited.
While we were having our early dinner, the lights got cut off. Apparently, each town has its own schedule for blackouts to conserve the remaining energy they have. It was not something disruptive as they usually turn off the power when it’s odd hours. We took the time as well to find a nice place to rest for the night.
Along the way, we were told that elephants are supposed to be just walking around, crossing the roads… I was ecstatic! Imagine the wild just in front of you casually passing you by… but then again, we were in a slump! We never had the chance to see a single elephant on our way.
Despite this, we found a nice place to stay at Elephas Resort & Spa.
We enjoyed breakfast on-the-go as we headed to Sigiriya Rock Fortress early in the morning, determined not to miss it this time.
As we drove – we kept our eyes peeled for elephants, hoping to catch a glimpse of them as we didn’t have a safari planned, but unfortunately, we still had no luck.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress (Lion Fortress)
The entrance fee to Sigiriya Rock Fortress was LKR 4500 per person, which is around USD 30. When we arrived, we were advised not to get a guide since our driver, Jack would be our source of information. But we decided to trust our instincts and get a guide anyway. We wanted to learn as much as we could while exploring the area.
As we made our way up, we couldn’t help but think of the Vaga Brothers’ vlog about the theories of the fortress’s origin. Was it a kingdom, a monastery, or a place of myth? Of course, Iking’s bet was on aliens!
Entrance to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress
It’s true what they say —
It´s better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times.
In an unexpected turn of events, Sigiriya Rock exceeded our expectations! Online pictures of the Sigiriya Rock weren’t particularly fascinating and despite suggestions to visit Pidurangala Rock, Sigiriya was the clear winner for us.
Sigiriya Rock from the ground was marvellous! It is the kind of scenery that gives you chills.
From the entrance, the guide we asked for help from started sharing the details about the place where how the walls were made and their purposes. A lot of ancient palaces we have been to have pools and enormous water systems, and Sigiriya Fortress is not an exception.
The fortress is home to a famous structure called the “Lion’s Paws”. It took us about half an hour to reach the base. It is arguably the fortress’s most iconic structure. As the name suggests, the building is made up of two enormous paws that flank a staircase that leads to the royal palace.
Typically, I prefer hiking on natural terrain, such as mountain steeps, rather than on any constructed “easy-access” platform, such as steps or paved paths. It simply reduces my sense of adventure for me. The trek up to the top of Sigiriya Fortress, however, is truly something else; it is most definitely not recommended for those who are nervy.
The flight of stairs combined with the strong winds will make your knees and legs feel like jelly. I kept whispering ‘don’t fall… don’t fall… don’t fall‘ to myself as I take each step up. I didn’t even dare to put out my phone to take photos of the views, which are magnificent by the way.
Here’s the very last stone we climbed after an hour or so of stairs.
There is no doubt as to why Sigiriya Rock Fortress given that it is an immense stature with a remarkably impressive design.
After a day of exploration and adventure in Sigiriya, we had a good night’s rest. The next morning, we were up early and ready to continue our journey. Our next destination was Nuwara Eliya, a charming city nestled in the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea country.
Duplicate post on paulajogalix.wordpress.com.
Jo Alix-Juab
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