Don't Look Down! Spectacular Sigiriya

Today we went to Sigiriya, which is one of Sri Lanka's most spectacular archeological sights. Rising 200m above the countryside below, King Kassapa built his summer palace here on top of the rock and his winter palace below back in the 5th century AD.

There were water gardens, flower gardens and numerous swimming pools all on a grand scale of course. We had a brilliant tour guide so it was interesting to hear what they think happened when this was a fully-functioning palace e.g. there is a throne above one of the pools where the King would sit and watch some of his 500 women/wives bathe! Then it was time to begin scaling the large rock. The guide book did say it is not as impossible as it looks from the ground, and they would be mostly right. Luckily for me, the last few months of going to the gym really paid off as I didn't struggle at all. Mum, however, only had to look at the almost verticle steps and decided it would be best to stay on relatively low ground and let me go up there without her! Turned out to be a good idea because it did get a bit hairy and it was best she stayed with my bag :)

Only half way up...

One of the scariest bits was climbing the wire-encased (thankfully that was there!) spiral staircase up to see Sri Lanka's most famous frescoes: the Sigiriya Damsels. The guide kept saying "Don't look down!" and I wish I had followed his advice as I of course looked down through a crack in the walkway underneath my feet and I felt slightly wobbly at the sight! We were already so high up, and only at the base of the rock. 

The last bit is where you enter through the lion's mouth (which isn't there any more, just the paws) which is where the name Sigiriya originates: meaning Lion's Rock. Then is the final quite terrifying climb up the steps attached to the sheer rock face, where the wind really picks up and I find myself wondering what I've let myself in for because surely these steps aren't going to hold out and I'm going to die here. 

The Steps up to the summit

However, I didn't look down and finally got to the summit. It was totally worth it! At the top on the flat of the rock are the ruins of the King's Palace, including flower gardens and a swimming pool. The views are fantastic. (Thank you Joanna for the recommendation, I'm so glad I did it!) 

Jumping off the "final 2" steps of the thousand-and-something steps up

(Of course the King wouldn't have been expected to walk up these steps, he would have been carried!)

The King's Palace on top of the rock

ELEPHANTS!

On our way to Sigiriya we were incredibly lucky so see some elephants in the wild. Firstly we saw 3 some distance away at a salt lake, and then a while later we came across 3 right by the side of the road! It was wonderful to see these beautiful creatures up close in their natural habitat. 

Not sure if this will work but it's a video of the elephants :)

Tomorrow to Anuradhapura

Love

Eleanor xx