Elephant Corridor

Sigiriya

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Set in over 80 hectares of unfenced grasslands, this high-end hotel is a terrific place to spot wildlife. Iguanas, monitor lizards and mongooses are all regularly encountered, and wild elephants wander through the area. The villas are spectacular and incredibly spacious, all with private indoor plunge pools, and there's a good spa and pool set in a forest clearing.

Rack rates are steep but web deals often drop tariffs to around US$115 a night. Located 7km west of Sigiriya, north of the main road.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa, Gal Vihara temple

    Gal Vihara

    20.18 MILES

    Part of Parakramabahu I’s northern monastery, Gal Vihara is a group of beautiful Buddha images that probably marks the high point of Sinhalese rock…

  • Vatadage, Quadrangle, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

    Quadrangle

    19.92 MILES

    A short stroll north of the Royal Palace ruins, the area known as the Quadrangle is literally that – a compact group of ruins in a raised-up area bounded…

  • Yapahuwa rock fortress.

    Yapahuwa Rock Fortress

    28.77 MILES

    The steep ornamental staircase of this dramatic rock fortress is perhaps its finest feature, and once led to the Temple of the Tooth. One of the lions…

  • Interior of Royal Rock Temple, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

    Cave Temples

    7.37 MILES

    The beautiful Royal Rock Temple complex sits about 160m above the road in the southern part of Dambulla. Five separate caves contain about 150 absolutely…

  • Visitors on the summit of Sigiriya Rock.

    Summit

    3.45 MILES

    The spectacular terraced summit of the rock covers 1.6 hectares. This is thought to be the site chosen by King Kasyapa for his fortified capital after he…

  • Lankatilaka Temple near Kandy, Sri Lanka

    Lankatilaka

    20.09 MILES

    One of the most evocative structures in Polonnaruwa, the Lankatilaka temple was built by Parakramabahu I and later restored by Vijayabahu IV. This massive…

  • Frescoes

    Frescoes

    3.41 MILES

    Halfway up the Sigiriya rock an open-air spiral stairway leads to a long, sheltered gallery in the sheer rock face. The paintings of the buxom, wasp…

  • Rankot Vihara

    Rankot Vihara

    20.04 MILES

    The 54m Rankot Vihara dagoba, the largest in Polonnaruwa and the fourth largest on the island, has been ascribed to the reign of King Nissanka Malla. Like…

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Nearby Sigiriya attractions

1. Sigiriya Museum

2.84 MILES

This decent museum has a fine diorama of the site, providing an excellent overview and explaining Sigiriya's cultural importance beyond the obvious…

2. Main Entrance

3.05 MILES

This is where you have your ticket checked and enter the main site.

3. Water Gardens

3.13 MILES

As you walk from the Sigiriya main entrance to the rock itself you pass a series of charming symmetrical water gardens, including curved tanks, bathing…

4. Main Exit

3.15 MILES

Most people end up here after their visit to the Sigiriya rock.

5. Royal Gardens

3.21 MILES

The base of the Sigiriya rock is a beautifully landscaped area dotted with formal water features, terraced gardens and natural boulders that were once…

6. Boulder Gardens

3.35 MILES

At the base of the Sgiriya rock and most easily seen after a visit to the summit, this collection of natural boulders once formed the bases of monastery…

7. Cobra Hood Cave

3.38 MILES

This rocky projection down in the Boulder Garden earned its name because the overhang resembles a fully opened cobra’s hood. The plastered interior of the…

8. Frescoes

3.41 MILES

Halfway up the Sigiriya rock an open-air spiral stairway leads to a long, sheltered gallery in the sheer rock face. The paintings of the buxom, wasp…