We left Jaffna in the same manner as our arrival; with farewell committee, same plane and same pilots all treating us like long lost friends. We flew into a RAF base close to at Sigiriya.
Sigiriya is a world heritage site rediscovered at the end of the 19th century by British archaeologist HCP Bell. Its centre piece is a 180m high rock which is a manga plug from a long eroded volcano. The peak can be attained in 1,222 steps, some very narrow, steep and clinging to the edge of the vertical face. We were grateful for our early start avoiding the crowds of predominantly locals on these paths.
The building works at the site were developed in the 5th Century on the top of the rock (Kings Palace), on the rock face (frescos of half naked women) and at the base of the rock (water gardens). The water gardens include underground conduits transporting water around the site for lily ponds, fountains and a moat inhabited by crocodiles for added defence.
Shilli-Fully Travels 