Sigiriya and Dambulla, the rock and the caves
Five hours south of us stands a rock two hundred metres high with a fifth-century palace on top. Down the road, caves full of Buddhas. Together they make the day most travellers remember longest.
Climbing the rock
Start at first light. The stairs are steep and there is no shade at the top, so the difference between six in the morning and ten is enormous. Frescoes sit half way up, water gardens spread out below, and the view from the summit runs to the horizon. Allow three hours from the ticket gate.
Dambulla, and how it fits a trip
Fifteen kilometres away, five caves cut into a hillside hold more than a hundred and fifty Buddha statues and painted ceilings that have been repainted for centuries. Most people do the rock in the morning and the caves after lunch. From Point Pedro it is 230 km — a long day out, or better, one night nearby before carrying on south.
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