JAN 29 SIGIRIYA AND DAMBULLA

SIGIRIYA
We decide to check out two major sites on our way to Anuradhapura and hire a van and driver to take us there. We want to leave early but the van is late. The president is arriving and all the roads are closed until he passes. No one can get to work or school and our driver can't get to us. An hour later at 8 am we get on the road, our destination Sigiriya 75 minutes away.

Sigiriya is the most dramatic tourist site in all of Sri Lanka. A rocky outcropping rises vertically out of the countryside to a flat topped summit that contains the ruins of an ancient civilization. The site is believed to be the short lived kingdom of Kassapa who murdered his father and looked for an unassailable place to build his palace back in the 5th century AD although it is also believed to be a place of worship as early as the first century AD.

The surrounding countryside is filled with lily pad covered moats, water gardens, boulder gardens and terraced gardens which all adds to the appeal. The climb to the top includes 1200 steps attached to sheer vertical cliffs. Along the ascent you pass caves containing ancient frescoes preserved from the elements and in great condition as well as giant lions paws carved out of the rock. The summit contains the foundations of the once royal palace and other buildings as well as a lovely water dugout. There are stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The site is full of tourists both foreign and locals coming to visit, and though crowded is still worth the visit. We spend the greater part of the morning there and then stop for lunch.

THE WATER GARDENS

THE ROCK GARDENS

CLIMBING THE ROCK

THE LIONS FEET

THE OLD WAY

REACHING THE TOP

THE ANCIENT CITY

DAMBULLA
Dambulla is the site of a famous 5 cave rock temple built into the side of a rocky hill and which contains over 150 Buddha statues and some of the finest examples of ancient religious art in the world. The first paintings are dated back to the first century AD and have been added to over the centuries to create a harmonious composition. All the walls and ceilings of the caves are covered in painting or design.

ENTRY TO THE CAVES

THE BUDDHAS

CEILING ART

There are superb views from The caves over the countryside. Sigiriya is clearly visible 20 kilometres in the distance.

We descend, and our driver takes us to the bus stop and we catch the first bus to Anuradhapura. It is standing room only but soon we are seated and 2 hours later we arrive at our next destination.