Today, with our driver Hector, we will go to Sigiriya Rock (1982, World Heritage Site), the Lion Rock, which offers a 360° view at 200m altitude, which can be reached with 1200 steps.
Sigiriya Rock
Over a small path to the pleasure gardens and small ponds you came through rocks to the climbing stretch.
Pleasure Garden / Indian skipper frog
It was very windy, relatively hot and almost cloudy. Along the mirror wall up to the spiral stairs to get to the frescoes.
At first, the climbing stretch with stairs was still pretty carefree for me...
1st stretch / Bumble Bees
...but the upper 2nd part from the Lion's Gate to the rock on free railing worried me. The wind was relatively strong, I was a bit nervous and had sweaty hands. Amanda, on the other hand, enjoyed the climb.
2nd stretch / Lion´s Gate
On the whole, however, the climb was relatively easy, you could always take breaks in the middle and a first aid was also on site. It is important that one wears a hat and drinks a lot. The view on the climb was always so great that you just wanted to continue and after about 2 hours you had it done.
Sigiriya Rock Top View
The Pidurangala Rock, you can also climb.
Pidurangala Rock
Lizard / Jumping spider / Golden skink
It was really impressive and there were also many enthusiastic locals on the rock, who had looked with pride and joy on their island from 200m altitude.
The ride continued...on the way we stopped at a forest, because Amanda had to empty the bladder...meanwhile, we were waiting at the car. Suddenly she screamed and shouted for me. I ran into the forest, saw her crouching and did not know what was going on. She meant, there behind you, the monkeys. I looked behind me and saw at least 10 different Big monkeys on the trees, some of them were already on the ground and looked curiously. I ran back to the car to get the camera and took some pictures, keeping the monkeys at a distance so my girlfriend could be alone. The endemic Ceylon toque macaque, (Macaca sinica), which occur mostly in large groups, can really come very close and steal everything that is eatable, as well as other items.
Toque macaque
We drove the road for half an hour and stopped at a shop to buy something to drink. Behind this shop was a little nature I looked at. Besides a few beautiful flowers, a very hard-to-find praying mantis.
White Hibsicus / West Indian Lantana
Indian bark Mantis / Tamil yeoman, Butterfly
After a few minutes of driving we saw the golden temple of Dambulla (1991, World Heritage Site).
This temple may only be entered with long clothes and barefoot. It got hotter and hotter that day and the over 350 stone steps to the top were relatively exhausting. So you were forced to go fast. On the way the monkeys provided a lot of amusement and also the locals as usual looked very satisfied despite the effort.
Golden Temple of Dambulla
Toque macaque
In addition, you can still visit cave temples which include paintings and statues. It takes much time to visit all.
Golden Temple Caves
Pink Water-Lily / Ceylon kangaroo lizard
After the visit we went exhausted but relaxed the 350 steps down. The monkeys were tired too.
Toque macaque
In the hotel waiting for us a special BBQ with great delicacies. The table was a good taste. We first went to the room to freshen up and on the way we met a little guy.
BBQ Table / Crab