The Lion Rock of Sigiriya is touted by Sri Lanka’s Tourism Board as the Eight Natural Wonder of the World. In its tourism campaigns, Sigiriya Rock (its other name) is a ubiquitous poster attraction – to the extent it’s almost becoming synonymous to the country itself. Ask anyone who had been to Sri Lanka about what to see – the usual response would be: climb the Sigiriya Rock. Google Sri Lanka – and guess what image pops up first? That’s right – Sigiriya Rock! There’s no doubt that this is the country’s most-visited tourist destination.
A Massive Rock. The Lion Rock of Sigiriya is an enormous rock that sprang out in the middle of a jungle. You would really wonder why and how on earth this happened in a middle of a forested flatland. The other towering natural formation you could find in the area is the Pidurangala Rock that stands less than a kilometre away. These two gigantic rocks are the only “skyscrapers” you could find, surrounded by endless plains shielded in tropical trees and vegetation.