Yala National Park Safari and other Sri Lanka Things to Do Tips

Black bear at Yala

Get to the park, hire a Landrover (about 3500SLR), driver, and tracker (included with the Landrover, but be sure to tip both of them at the end). Pay your admission to the park (1500SLR). Ride in Landrover around the park for 2-3 hours, looking for animals. Go towards the end of the day for more active animals.

We saw quite a few; three different elephants just off the side of the road (one with tusks), wild boar, peacocks, langurs, crocodiles, monitor lizard, many birds, water buffalo, deer, and a black bear (see pic). Alas, no leopards, but yes, it was worth it; the close-up view of the elephants peering at us through the bushes was quite good. And we were all excited about the bear.

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Address: Southeast Sri Lanka

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: All your exercise in one day...

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Updated by llcole

on Jan 7, 2004

Sigiriya upon arrival

Say "SIG-ree-ya".

This rock, arising out of an otherwise pretty flat landscape, is 377 meters above sea level. It's got what may have been a fortress, but was more likely a palace, from the 5th century AD, at the top. It also has stunning views. So of course you must climb it. It took us about 1.5 hours on the way up (with stops for rest, and to look at the frescoes). Probably would have been 1/2 an hour to get back down, had we not been distracted by the snake charmer.

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Address: In the cultural triangle, Hill Country
Directions: Between Dambulla and Habarana

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: on the way to the top

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Written by llcole

on Jan 3, 2004

On the way up...

We hadn't planned on visiting Sigiriya on this particular day, but our schedule was revised due to one of the many serendipitous events we encountered in Sri Lanka on a regular basis (it's something you just get used to, and even come to appreciate). So, as it happened, I was a bit under the weather on this day. And I look it.

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: Maybe about one-third of the way up...

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Written by llcole

on Jan 3, 2004

One view

How far we've come...and how far do we have to go?

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: One of the titillating frescoes

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Updated by llcole

on Dec 28, 2004

Fresco at Sigiriya

Part of the way up Sigiriya, you will encounter a walkway with some frescoes of women such as this. There were what I presumed to be employees of the park there, to ensure that people don't take flash pictures or otherwise harm the frescoes (there was apparently some crazed vandal in the late 60's that ruined a lot of them). The frescoes are quite striking, especially when you consider that they were painted around 500 AD, and that there was no known breast augmentation going on at that time. Or maybe there was...

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: Probably two-thirds of the way up

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Written by llcole

on Jan 4, 2004

Local man eludes lion

After the frescoes, you'll come to a plateau where they sell drinks and you can rest for a bit. It seems some visitors only come this far, and never actually make it to the top; we spoke with one woman who was afraid of heights and so did not want to continue on, and another who I suspect was just too exhausted to do so. We were also pretty tired, but there was no way we were going to come this far and not finish.

The last portion of the journey from here begins with mounting these steps, which are situated between two giant lion paws made of stone. Was there a whole giant lion there once? Or were there only paws? Will we ever know?

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: Looking down

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Written by llcole

on Jan 4, 2004

Sri Lankan engineering at its

finest

Heading up the last part to the top, you can sort of understand why those with height issues may not be too crazy about this. The stairs do seem quite stable, though.

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Things To Do: Sigirya: At the top!

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Written by llcole

on Jan 4, 2004

The view from Sigiriya

Here's the incredible view from the top. You can also see some of the remains of the ancient palace/fortress in the foreground. It was well worth the climb. Fortunately, it was an overcast day (as you can see), so although the photo opportunities weren't as breathtaking, we didn't have the sun beating down on us either. I think all the touts carrying umbrellas were a little dejected.

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: once more from the top

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Written by llcole

on Jan 4, 2004

Sigiriya from the top again

After all the build-up I gave, I feel bad about only having one picture from the top. So here's another one.

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Things To Do: Sigiriya: A man and his snakes

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Written by llcole

on Jan 4, 2004

A man who enjoys his job (I think)