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An early start to catch the local bus to Sigiriya, a 40 minute trip. It was raining again when we woke and continued on and off on the way. We were determined to visit this place though so it would have to have been much worse to stop us. This is a very impressive site, with suggestions it had been occupied since the 3rd Century - most works completed in the 5th. There is a Museum on site which is included in the $39 entrance fee & it is certainly worth looking through. The highlights here for us were the 1,200 stairs to the top, the ancient frescoes painted on the walls, the Lion platform, Mirror Wall (with ancient & modern graffiti), the spiral stairs that take you to the frescoes, the gardens and the views from the top. The views were very impressive and were enhanced courtesy of the rainy mist. You could imagine what it may have been like living here when it was, some say, constructed for King Kassapa (AD 477-495) as a fortress. The alternative theory is that the site was a Buddhist Monastry, built several centuries before.
Bus back to Dambulla & we were sitting down to lunch at the Benthota Restaurant (2nd time here) by 1.30pm. We recommend this place as it is nice and clean, has very good food and is airconditioned.
Off to Kandy tomorrow is the plan.
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