Sigiriya continues to be Sri Lanka's top tourist attraction

Sonia Sorengsangbam *

Sigiriya continues to be Sri Lanka's top tourist attraction :: Pix - Chronicle News Service / Sonia Sorengsangbam

Apart from being recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Sigiriya Rock Fortress in central Sri Lanka continues to be the country's most visited tourist attraction, drawing thousands of foreign tourists to the ancient site each year.

Constructed by King Kashyapa, who ruled Sri Lanka from 473 to 495 CE, the Sigiriya Rock Fortress - also known as the Sigiriya Lion Fortress - rises 200 metres high and has over 1,200 steps leading to the top of the towering rock and its intricate palace complex.

According to Sri Lankan officials, around 10 lakh tourists, including visitors from across the globe, visit the famous cultural and archaeological site annually. It is one of the eight World Heritage Sites in the island nation declared by UNESCO.

Maintained by the Sri Lankan government, Sigiriya Rock Fortress remains one of the most prominent and impressive sites welcoming tourists to the country. Drawing comparison with the fortress, Manipur too could emerge as one of India's most attractive tourist destinations if the state's historic forts are developed in a similar manner.

The Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), and the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) jointly organised a media exposure tour to Sri Lanka. A total of 22 scribes led by AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam and DIPR officials headed by additional director T Ramesh took part in the tour.

APO N Roshan and cameraman Deepak were also part of the team. The delegation left Imphal on March 25 and reached the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, the next day. From the airport, the team travelled directly to Sigiriya Rock Fortress.

After a four-hour bus ride, the team reached a hotel near the fortress, spent the night there, and visited the site the next morning. The entry fee for Sigiriya Rock Fortress is around Rs 2,000 in Indian currency per tourist, and the site remains open from 7 am to 5:30 pm daily. All members of the team visited the site.

Initially, I was uncertain about climbing the towering rock fortress, but I resolved to do so to avoid regretting not experiencing Sri Lanka's most iconic landmark. Gardens and mirror walls surround the rock, and granite steps are neatly laid out for the ascent.

It is said that climbing up and down typically takes between one and a half to three hours - and our team took about the same time. By the time we reached halfway, some members of the team decided to stop. Those of us determined to reach the top continued climbing, navigating narrower and steeper steps with care. Eventually, we made it to the summit.

Atop the fortress stood the flattened Durbar Hall of the then king and remains of the ancient rocky palace.

After taking photos and enjoying the stunning panoramic view of lush green forest, we descended and reunited with the rest of the team.

I felt proud to be the only female member of our team to reach the top. Interestingly, the majority of tourists climbing the rock that day were Japanese.