Exploring the Sigiriya Lion’s Paws Sculpture
Exploring the Sigiriya Lion’s Paws Sculpture
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Sigiriya is probably Sri Lanka’s most important attraction. A massive ancient stone fortress set atop a mountainous rock in the heartlands of Central Sri Lanka, the Lions Rock (also known as the Lion Rock or Sigiriya)is an unmissable part of any visit to this beautiful island.
What Is the Sigiriya Lion’s Paws Sculpture?
At the north end of the rock, a narrow pathway emerges on to the large platform 2from the site derives its name – Sigiriya (from Sinha-giri) means “Lion Rock’. HCP Bell, the British archaeologist responsible for an enormous amount of archaeology in Sri Lanka, found the two enormous lion paws when excavating here in 1898.
At one time a gigantic brick lion sat at this end of the rock, and the final ascent to the top commenced with a stairway that led between the lion’s paws and into its mouth. The lion symbolisms serves as a reminder to devotees ascending the rock that Buddha was Sakya-Sinha (Lion of the Sakya Clan) and that truth he spoke of were as powerful as the sound of a lion’s roar.
The 5th – century lion has since disappeared, apart from the first steps and the paws. Reaching the top means climbing up across a series of metal stairs, but you can see the original grooves and steps cut in to the rock.
How to Reach Sigiriya from Major Cities
You can reach Sigiriya from major cities in Sri Lanka by flying, taking a bus, or a private car or taxi. Buses are a common and budget-friendly option, with Dambulla being a key transfer hub for buses to Sigiriya. For a direct route, you can fly from Colombo or take a train to a nearby city like Habarana and then use a taxi or tuk-tuk.
Break down routes from key travel hubs for short-holiday visitors.
From Colombo
- Bus: Take a bus from the Bastian Mawatha Bus Terminal to Dambulla or Habarana, then catch another bus or tuk-tuk to Sigiriya. The journey takes 4-5 hours by bus to Dambulla, where there are hourly buses to Sigiriya.
- Train: Take a train from Colombo Fort Station to Habarana, then hire a tuk-tuk or taxi to Sigiriya (about a 15 km, 15-20 minute ride).
- Flight: For the fastest option, take a direct flight from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo to the Sigiriya airstrip (GIU), operated by airlines like.
- Private Vehicle: Hire a private car or taxi for a direct and flexible journey, which takes about 4-5 hours by road.
From Kandy
- Bus: Take a direct bus from Kandy’s main bus station to Sigiriya, which takes about 2 hours. Alternatively, take a bus to Dambulla and then transfer to a local bus or tuk-tuk to Sigiriya.
- Private Vehicle: Arrange a private car or taxi for a direct transfer from Kandy to Sigiriya.
From Dambulla
- Bus: Take an hourly local bus from the Dambulla Bus Stand to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress entrance.
- Tuk-tuk: A faster option is to take a tuk-tuk from Dambulla to Sigiriya, a journey that takes about 20-30 minutes.
- Taxi: Hire a taxi from Dambulla to Sigiriya for a more comfortable ride.
