We already know. The title is not very successful. What does it mean which one is the best? According to what criteria is chosen? Is there a market study behind? Jolin how are you becoming demanding eh!
Let's say the most correct title would be "The ancient cities of Sri Lanka: which is the best according to Rober and Lety, considering quality-price of the visit, personal tastes and democratic election of the chosen one? ” Better like that right? Well ... let's go there.
But ... Why do I have to choose?
Sri Lanka is a great destination. We know that now. But there was a moment, during the trip, that we were a little pissed off / disappointed with this country. The reason is one: the damn tickets to the attractions.
And when you read, study, plan a trip for this land so far away, there is 3 cities that paint super well… are the “ancient cities”: Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Pollonaruwa. The truth is that the 3 seem very cool but ... if you want to visit them all be prepared to spend about $ 75. As it is!
And if you travel with a backpacking budget ... 75 $ is a lot of money. A LOT OF PASTA! Especially in Asia.
And here comes the dilemma: OK, it's pasta, but when else will I go back to Sri Lanka? At the end of the day it is € 50, on a weekend on the beach I spend more ... There you!
We, in principle, had planned the following:
- Anuradhapura: visit only the free places.
- Sigiriya: visit the town without climbing the rock.
- Polonnaruwa: visit to the archaeological site. Bye bye 25 $ turkeys.
But as you know, the plans are of little use, and we never do what we set out to do, finally we let ourselves be tricked by the rock of Sigiriya and decided to climb it…
Now, after visiting the cities we have some advice for you ...
> ANURADHAPURA
If you don't mind spending money, you have enough left over or once you travel to Sri Lanka you want to see everything ... Visit it! If instead you prefer to go in savings-on mode you can visit the free sites offered by the city (monasteries, dagobas, royal gardens, etc ...). You will have an idea of what was the longest of the ancient cities and your $ 25 in the portfolio.
If you traveled through Asia, you visited Ayutthaya, Sukkothai, Angkor, Bagan or Borobudur ... you may be disappointed. Do not misunderstand us. Polonnaruwa is not ugly, much less: the ring, the budda, the places are beautiful, but nothing new or wonderful. And if we put to this that the entrance ticket is not exactly cheap ... well we would not do it again!
> SIGIRIYA
Lion's rock is one of the symbols of Sri Lanka, if not the most famous ...Is it worth the climb? NEITHER!
- Yes, because both the road and the top are beautiful (the stop to see the Sigiriya maidens with their suspicious “roundnesses” ... that can't be natural! The graphite wall, the lion's hooks, the vertigo stairs and happiness when they reach the top they are priceless, well yes $ 25).
- Not because you are really interested in seeing the rock, being on it you don't see it! In this case you can go to the mountain of Pidurangala, about 2 km away, and climb to its top: from there you will have the best views of the Sigiriya rock ... and maybe Sri Lanka (and also the entrance is much cheaper).
Now… Would we go back to the Sigiriya rock? YES!
And you? Have you visited the 3 ancient cities of Sri Lanka? Which one did you like the most? Which less?
