SEPTEMBER 2026
OVERVIEW
Please read our Sri Lanka Tour post to get the overview of what we are doing, general information, tips, tricks, and traps.
We have already done:
Kalkudah Beach / Pasikuda Beach
Polonnaruwa (Archaeological Park)
It is time to move on to Sigiriya.
SIGIRIYA (‘SIGI’)
PLAN B
I originally planned to stay for 2 nights in Sigi (to look around the ‘rock’) before moving 18kms further west to spend another 2 nights in Dambulla (to visit the famous rock caves).
I landed in Sigi, liked the ‘rural’ feel, cancelled Dambulla, and booked another 2 nights in Sigi instead … and, after seeing Dambulla, I am glad that I did.
GETTING THERE
Sigi is about 55kms by road west of Polonnaruwa.
I couldn’t be arsed with catching (1) a tuk tuk to Polo Bus Station (2) catching a local Public Bus to Moragaswewa Junction (3) catching a tuk tuk from there to go the final 15kms to Sigi.
I compared UBER and PICKME Tuk Tuk prices to go door-to-door. UBER offered 7,300r for a budget car. PICKME offered 6,700r for a Tuk Tuk. My Sigi hotel offered 6,500r to send someone to pick me up. I chose the latter.
I was picked up at my Polo hotel at 11am and I was dropped off at my Dambulla hotel before 1pm.
ABOUT
WEATHER
We had no rain whilst we were there.
SCOOTER / BICYCLE RENTAL
Sigi is a popular tourist spot. The ‘standard’ daily rate for a bicycle is 1,000r. The ‘standard’ daily rate for a scooter is 3,000r … some places want as much as 3,500r.
There are several scooter rental places to be found. I walked around to compare prices. I was offered a good, fairly new scooter for 2,500r per day if rented for 3 days.
SIGIRIYA ROCK
Sigi surrounds an ancient citadel built by King Kashyapa during the 5th century.
The Sigi site contains the ruins of an upper palace located on the flat top of the rock, a mid-level terrace that includes the Lion Gate and the mirror wall with its frescoes, the lower palaces cling to the slopes below the rocks. The moats, walls and gardens of the palace extend for a few hundred metres from the base of the rock.
The site was both a palace and a fortress.
If you are ‘up to it’, you can climb the steps to the top. If not, you can just admire the view.
DAMBULLA ROCK CAVE TEMPLE
This is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m (520 ft) over the surrounding plains. There are more than 80 documented caves. The major attractions are spread over 5 caves, which contain statues and paintings. The murals cover an area of 2,100 m2. The statues and paintings in these caves date back to the 1st century BC.
These caves are definitely the highlight of Dambulla.
DAMBULLA SURROUNDS
So, what is it like around Dambulla?
In summary, it is just a busy town. The Golden Buddha is the 2nd highlight … but, otherwise, I wasn’t impressed.
EAT & DRINK
There are a surprising number of decent restaurants to choose from in Sigi … albeit at ‘touristy prices’. A typical meal costs about 1,700r-2,300r. But, you can still find simple Vegi meals for about 1,000r.
Because it is a ‘touristic area’, you atypically find that many of those restaurants sell alcohol. Expect to pay about 1,000r for a 500ml can of Lion Beer.
If you have transport, you will also find a Beer Shop about 1.5kms down the road on your way towards Dambulla.
If you get out on a scooter you will find places where the locals eat.
I tried their Veg Rice & Curry Buffet for 500r.
ACCOMMODATION
WHERE TO STAY
You should have no problem finding a hotel within our GRANDPAcker price range.
NOTE: Sigi has regular power cuts which can last a couple of hours.
I suggest the following:
Look in the Green Shaded Area. Keep close to the main road for easy access to a good selection of shops, bars, and restaurants. There are 3 ‘sweet spots’: the village around the Green Grass Homestay, the village around the Travelers Hostel, and the ‘touristy cluster’ at the main junction.
If you have transport (e.g. a rental scooter) you can find some lovely spots in the Yellow Shaded Area.
I would avoid the Red Shaded Area south of the Mock Pura Bar.
MY ACCOMMODATION
I used BOOKING.COM to book 2 nights in a Deluxe Double with Fan at the Green Grass Homestay. I paid 3,200r per night excluding breakfast … but they included breakfast for another 900r per day per person (I do not recommend that you take up this breakfast option … it is very basic … you get better value for money if you go to a local restaurant).
The room was very simple but I liked it. Private bathroom with hot water shower. A nice garden setting. My own patio. Set within a small ‘village’ of restaurants and shops. Only 400 metres walk from the entrance to Sigi Park. I did a ‘package deal’ with them … another 2 nights (at 3,000r per night), and a rental scooter for 3 days (at 2,500r per day). They were happy … and, I was happy.
Their wifi did not work for the whole 4 days that I was there … but, I could happily use my own (cheap) mobile data.
GETTING AWAY
Dambulla has a Bus Stand which services major routes. I pre-booked a seat on a luxury bus from Dambulla to Trincomalee for 2,900r. The bus takes about 2.5 hours.
However, Sigi is well connected to other main tourist spots.
A shared minivan to Trincomalee was only 3,800r. Pick up was from their Office near the Travelers Hostel (not your hotel) but drop off was to your Trin hotel … they also offered to include drop off at my Nilaveli Beach hotel.
It was going to cost me 2,000r to catch a tuk tuk to Dambulla Bus Stand. I decided to cancel my pre-booked bus ticket (for a refund), avoid the 2,000r tuk tuk, and catch a minivan instead.
CONCLUSION
I liked Sigi immediately. There is something special about the place. Not too touristy … but, lots of tourism infrastructure such as shops, restaurants, bars, safaris, cheap shared taxi connections to other tourist hot spots, nature, pretty streets, touches of the ‘real Sri Lanka’, and all at a reasonable price.
You have 3 choices:
- Base yourself in Dambulla and visit Sigi;
- Base yourself between the two (not recommended);
- Base yourself in Sigi and visit Dambulla.
I recommend option 3.
Book into a Sigi hotel for 3 nights. Spend your first day in Sigi doing ‘the rock’. On your second day, rent a scooter and do the Dambulla Caves and the Golden Buddha.
TTFN
