# @stephmylife on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DWIxxKkEZT2
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/60726815-stephmylife-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/47fa5620e3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-21T06:54:10.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Stephanie Barry Woods (@stephmylife) — https://gondola.cc/stephmylife

## Caption

My ideal 24 hours in Sigiriya

This historic town in the cultural triangle in Sri Lanka MUST be on your itinerary! But you don’t have to spend too long here.  Here’s how to see the highlights in just one day before moving to the east coast or Kandy!

Comment ‘list please’ for the Google maps locations for each spot mentioned! 

🌅 Sunrise at Lion Rock
Wake up early and climb to see the most iconic view in Sri Lanka, Sigiriya Rock - a UNESCO World Heritage site. I love this view so much!! There’s no dress code, but ticket prices are steep at $35 a pop. 

🍳 After, come back to your hotel for a shower, breakfast and swim. I *loved* the hotel I picked for my tour, aliyaresortbythema - the pool was insane. 

🛕 Next, drive to Dambulla Cave Temple to see 2,000 years of Sri Lankan history. It’s one of the best-preserved cave complexes in Asia. Get a guide here or at least load up a page with the history so that you can read about it when you’re there. Your shoulders and knees need to be covered, and you have to take off your shoes, but the rocks get super hot, so bring socks.

📍 Golden Buddha
After the cave, head down to the golden Buddha below the temple. You don’t have to go inside, you can just stroll up and see it. 

🍚 Have lunch at Sandamadala Family Restaurant
This is a low key, budget friendly restaurant which was my *favourite* during our trip. Try the vegetable kottu, devilled chicken / fish, nasi goreng & veg biriyani. This is a great place to try Sri Lankan food if you’re new to it! Dishes are served family style, so they’re huge and you share everything.

Sunset at Pidurangala Rock
For sunset, you can climb this rock for views over Lion Rock. It’s only $3 to climb, and is lesser visited than Lion Rock — but it’s a slightly more challenging climb with some scrambling at the top.

(If you don’t want to do both climbs, book into the Alariya Hotel where you can see both from the infinity pool!)

🍲 Dinner at Rithu Restaurant
End the day with a Sri Lankan buffet dinner. Try local curries, noodles & rice dishes served up in clay pots. Take a little bit of what you fancy first, then go up and get more of what you want! 

#sigiriya #sri

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## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Stephanie Barry Woods | @stephmylife | https://gondola.cc/stephmylife | Influencer |

## Tags

sri, sigiriya

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