Dambulla and Sigiriya

We left Kandy at 6am for a two hour drive to Dambulla to visit the 1st century cave temple, there are several caves all with carvings and decorated roof. The first picture shows the followers of Buddha and the last picture is part of a cave temple roof. It is better to go early as it is a steep climb up steps to the temple but it is worth the climb. I rested in the middle of the day to prepare for the ascent (and descent) of Sigiriya. I left the hotel at 3pm by tuk tuk for a 20km drive and the photos show the walk through gardens which have recently been excavated, and then a climb up steps and more steps and along ledges to the top of the rock where the king and his entourage lived for part of the year before moving to ground level. The other view is looking down from the top the way I had walked u.. A moat surrounded the gardens to stop unauthorised entry. There are frescos on the way up but many were removed by monks who took over the rock from the king. They didn't like the erotics females. I was back at my hotel before 6pm and enjoyed a cool lime soda. If you come to Sri Lanka this is a must do, but remember to do one in the early morning and one in the late afternoon to take advantage of the cooler temperatures.