Day 104 - Anuradhapura and Sigiriya (Lion Rock) to Polowaruwa, Sri Lanka

Day 104 – Hers.

 We were up and showered by 7 and had a truly lovely breakfast in the hotel to set us up for a full day of sightseeing.  A short bus ride delivered us at the ruins and temples of the ancient city of Anuradhapura, built in the 3rd century BC.  We saw the sacred bodhi tree, grown from a cutting of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment – supposedly the oldest living tree in documented history - and explored the remnants of the Brazen Palace. The area is reminiscent of Anchor Thom, the ancient city of Cambodia – though fewer of the buildings remain.  The extensive foundations and pillars bear testament to what must have been a truly magnificent city.  We visited the restored Ruwanveliseya Stupa and the seated Samadhi Buddha  - an ancient statue of the Buddha sitting in the meditation position and then had lunch at a ‘locals’ restaurant -  yet another buffet version of rice and curry, delicious as always, but again toned down for Western tastes until, that is, I added the fried red chilis....  One of the more interesting dishes this time was curried jack fruit – I had wanted to taste jack fruit; it is a bit like squash – it wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but I enjoyed it.  We finished off the meal with nut and coconut brittle – very nice indeed. 

After lunch we reboarded the bus for the short drive to the Sigiriya (Lion Rock) rock fortress. Dewa explained that King Kassapa, who had killed his father and feared retribution from his half brother, built this virtually impregnable fortress in 471AD.  We had been warned that the climb was challenging and it was indeed  - stone steps and rickety stairways clinging to the rock face rose several hundred metres to a terrace, which sits beneath enormous carved lion paws (remnants of the lion façade that once protruded from the edifice) and further climb up to the summit  - where natural springs feed an amazing hydraulic system of fountains (some still working) and pools in the water gardens at the base of the rocky outcrop.  Rob didn’t climb the spiral staircase to see the unbelievably well-preserved 1500-year-old frescoes of well-endowed women – nor the scariest staircase up to the summit.  I overcame my fears and held my breath – concentrating just on the steps and not the drop – and made it up to both....and back down without incident.

An hour and a half more on the bus brought us to Polowaruwa and our hotel for the next two nights.  We spent the evening chatting with our group over drinks and dinner – they are a great group this time, really nice people – and then scurried off to bed.  Another full day tomorrow.......