This Fitness Rocks – Sri Lanka
- Kategorie: travel
“Only where you have walked on foot have you truly been.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
From our lovely hotel, Sigiriya Village, you can already see it: majestic and imposing, Sigiriya Rock rises right behind the swimming pool, and we can’t wait to climb it. What we didn’t expect, however, were more than 1,200 steps to conquer in temperatures of around 37°C—but at least it keeps us fit.
At first, we walk through beautiful green gardens and ancient ruins. By the time we reach the first steps, countless beads of sweat have already formed on our foreheads and noses. With slightly shaky legs, we find ourselves halfway up, standing in front of a steep spiral staircase that leads us into a small cave. Inside, we get to admire the famous Cloud Maidens—unfortunately, photography is not allowed here in order to protect the delicate frescoes.
Now only a few steps remain before we’re rewarded at 200 meters with an absolutely incredible view. Of course, we want to capture it in as many photos as possible. Like many other “climbers,” we notice that there are a few favorite photo spots at the top, and you may have to wait a bit to get the perfect shot. It’s also extremely windy, which makes standing near the edge of the rock quite challenging.
Our tip: start your climb as early as possible. Not only will it be less hot, but you’ll also avoid the biggest crowds—at least to some extent.
In the evening, a few fellow hotel guests tell us that they didn’t want to spend the 4,800 rupees for Sigiriya Lion Rock and instead visited the neighboring rock, Pidurangala. The view, they say, is incredible—and it only costs 500 rupees to climb. Naturally, we want to see it for ourselves, so we set off in the late afternoon.
This time, instead of 1,200 steps, we follow narrow, rocky paths that wind their way steeply uphill. After about 30 minutes, we reach the final section, where we have to scramble over rocks—but the view of Lion Rock glowing in the evening sun is absolutely spectacular.
There are also fewer people on Pidurangala, as it’s less touristy, which makes it easier to find beautiful spots to take in the panorama and capture the unforgettable atmosphere. The time between 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm seems especially perfect, and some people even come up here to meditate.
Even though we personally liked Pidurangala a bit more, we’re still very glad we experienced Sigiriya Rock with its beautiful gardens, ancient staircases, and stunning wall paintings in person.
