Day 5 - Habarana to Lion Rock
Tuesday 4th August, 2026 - Lion Rock
Anyway, we had breakfast and the bus left the hotel at 8:00 am, heading for Lion Rock, also called Sigiriya Rock Fortress, an ancient 5th-century palace and fortress built by King Kasyapa I. Rising nearly 200 meters above the central plains of Sri Lanka, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its advanced water gardens, ancient frescoes, mirror wall, and the iconic giant lion paws guarding the final ascent. To climb to the top we had to traverse over 1200 steps. We were informed only to take a drink bottle and camera with us as the loitering monkeys are known to open bags, remove hats and take anything loose from the tourists.
Sigiriya was converted into a Buddhist monastery complex, lasting until the 14th century.
The site was largely abandoned and swallowed by the jungle for hundreds of years. British archaeologist Harry Charles Purvis Bell systematically excavated and documented the site in the late 19th century.
The excavations uncovered extensive ruins, water gardens, wall paintings and frescoes. More information can be found here : https://sigiriyafortress.com
The rock was thankfully clouded over and quite windy in places, making the ascent much easier, although still slow. We were there from 9:00 - 11:30 and it was a great highlights of our tour.
After our Lion Rock adventure we took off to walk thorough a local village, walking along a levee bank alongside a large man made water source to see how the village grows rice, coconut trees, bananas and other food crops. Nice walk!
Next stop - lunch, featuring Sri Lankan foods and a coconut breaking and shredding demonstration. We enjoyed a thin cuplike rice pancake and a large variety of curried vegetables, finishing off with curds, fresh fruit and mango icecream. This was the best lunch we have had since arriving - very fresh and tasty. Needless to say, we skipped dinner today after a bit breakfast and lunch.
Back at Habarana and we opted to take an Ayurveda Herbal Massage for 15,000 LKR ($64 each). We were dropped of at 17:00 and finished at 18:30 - full body massage, hot herbal pads pounded into our skin and finished off in a steam sauna. A great decision. Our bodies were smothered in oil. We opted for another coffee and walk, eventually meeting up with some of our other travellers for a drink in a restaurant prior to a shower (luke warm) to wash the oil from our hair and then into bed.
This is indeed a rustic level tour – just what you wanted and seemingly being delivered. Nicely organised – what more could you want. Warm water (at least you have water), non-functioning power points, hopeless Wifi, and, to top it off, dead bugs. Brilliant.
Those monkeys sound positively smart.
The massage would have been very welcome and relaxing.
I assume the coffee has been up to or above expectations – you have not commented and I know your exacting standards.
Just caught up with your travels. Great photos – all looks amazing, specially that Rock!! What a discovery – imagine uncovering it! xx
We have been having coffee every day, has been ok, but not exceptional.
Oooh the Ayurveda Herbal Massage sounds divine