Sigiriya Rock

An 8am start to ensure we got to Sigiriya Rock before it got too hot. Our hotel was only 5 minutes away from the Rock so we are there with our tickets well before 8.30. There are relatively few people around at this time.

The guidebook states there are two things to remember about visiting the rock do it early am or late evening and not at the weekend. We were ok on this front. The path to the Rock proper is through some excavated gardens that date back to the time it was used as a fort and palace. This is the flat, easy going bit.

Sigiriya Rock dominates the landscape around but is "only" 200m high. However, this equates to about 1200 steps to the top; some sections of steps up are rather precarious to say the least. Before we were even a quarter of the way up we were puffing and consuming huge amounts of water.

Lots and lots of stops and we managed to get half way up to the area called Lion's Paw. At this point Emma and Alison wussed out of the climb and the steep metals steps cut into the rock that takes people to the top of the Rock. Paul strode, or rather wheezed, manfully up to the top for a look at the stunning views and the remains of the village on top of the Rock.

While at the half way point Alison and Emma found many mums and daughters who stopped at this point so they didn't feel left out. They managed to see a few monkeys who were looking for some scraps of food too and a lovely Chinese lady obliged with chocolate and he nearly took her hand off as well.

Some rock history - it dates back to 455 BC so is very very old and was the palace of the King Dhatusena This king apparently had 500 wives but only 2 sons - believe that if you will!! It does house very good ruins of the water gardens, boulder gardens and some frescos - which you have to climb up the face of the rock by a spiral staircase (needless to say that was Paul's job). As you walk up there is also a mirror wall which was originally highly polished. As the king walked up to the top he would see the sun shine on the wall and see lots of graffiti.

On the way down ...which was in itself good news...... we had more good news - our bags had arrived in Colombo and should be on the way to the hotel by taxi soon. Via the steps to the bottom of the rock you see many boulders - one of which had broken in two and formed a cobra hood. Very impressive.

After a short drive into the village we stopped and had a very welcome drink before meeting Sita our 29 year old elephant who was going to take us on a ride. It was a very good job there was a ladder to get you to the top and sit on her - but Paul still found it amusing to see Alison find her seat. We had a 50 min trip on Sita through the jungle and ending up at a lake which overlooked the rock - very picturesque.

Off to lunch after that to a buffet style Sri Lankan restaurant called the ACME Transit hotel (they watch too much Road Runner I think). Chicken, Poppadoms and salad for the careful eaters (me and Emma) and curry for Alison.

After lunch we were off to a elephant safari. Hurulu Eco park is a vast park which is very good to spot Herds of elephants - if the season is right. We were very fortunate and had a good day elephant spotting - coming within 1m of a fairly young one. A great afternoon where we saw elephants in their natural setting. The pictures tell a very good story better than words.

We returned to our hotel - hot and sweaty and in need of some clean clothes - to be greeted by a man from Sri Lankan Airways with our luggage. Hurray!!!! Clean clothes have never felt so good.

Fab first day of our tour - looking forwards to our other days.Read more