This morning I signed up for an early morning (6:30am) bird-watching walk. Don’t quite know why I did this but it turned out to be a nice stroll through the grounds of the hotel (basically tropical rain forest). We did see some birds, monkeys and other wild life but that wasn’t really the main event. It was a chance to walk around in the cool of the morning, soak in the atmosphere and work up an apetite for breakfast. The rest of the day would be a whopper.
Next up was a visit to UNESCO World Heritage Site #2 - The Rock Temples Of Dambulla. These temples, built in caves, consist of five sanctuaries with incredible wall paintings and an abundance of carved Budha’s. These are the largest and best preserved in Sri Lanka.
These caves date back to the 3rd century BC and have been in continuos use as a temple for over 22 centuries. There are 157 statues in total.
I have to say this site was really impressive and probably the highlight of our stay in Sri Lanka.
Back to the hotel for a quick lunch then off to UNESCO Site #3 - Sigiriya.
Sigiriya is basically a giant rock fortress, 1,250ft high built by King Kassapa (477-95). It’s one of the best preserved sites in this region. In addition to the rock, there are extensive grounds and ruins.
You can hike up to the top of the rock by climbing up stone steps and metal staircases. On the way you see incredible galleries of paintings and cross the mouth of a gigantic carved lion. In the heat and humidity, it’s a strenuous hike, sweaty and vertigo inducing. But, it’s worth it in the end, just for the bragging rights.
Phew! That was tough. Back to the hotel for a shower and the evening’s entertainment.