What's on in Sigiriya, Sri Lanka through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Sri Lanka

• Hazard

  Hornets on the rock face

  1 Jan – 31 DecInsect seasonClosures

  Giant hornet nests hang under the overhangs, wire cages sit on the stairs for people to shelter in, and the site is closed at short notice when a nest goes up. Nobody shouts on the climb for a reason. Source ↗

Still on: Northeast (Maha) monsoon (15 Oct – 15 Jan (usually)), Christmas and New Year peak (20 Dec – 5 Jan)

Busy — February break in Sri Lanka, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — February break in Sri Lanka, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Peak crowds — Sinhala and Tamil New Year, Sinhala & Tamil New Year break in Sri Lanka

• Holiday

  Sinhala and Tamil New Year

  10–18 AprSchool holidaysCrowdedClosures

  Sri Lankan families take the cultural triangle over the holiday and the queue on the stairs backs up to the lion's paws by nine. Go at opening or wait a week. Source ↗

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Dry-zone season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Dry-zone season

  15 May – 15 SepDry seasonCrowded

  The reliable half of the year here, on the opposite schedule to the south coast. The tanks drop, the scrub browns off, and the climb is dry underfoot but has no shade on it at all.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Busy — Dry-zone season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-zone season (15 May – 15 Sep)

Peak crowds — Dry-zone season, The Gathering at Minneriya

• Nature

  The Gathering at Minneriya

  15 Jul – 30 Sep · usuallyWildlife seasonCrowded

  As the tank shrinks, hundreds of elephants come out onto the grass on the exposed bed — the largest gathering of wild Asian elephants anywhere. It moves between Minneriya and Kaudulla with the water.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-zone season (15 May – 15 Sep)

Peak crowds — Dry-zone season, The Gathering at Minneriya

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-zone season (15 May – 15 Sep), The Gathering at Minneriya (15 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry-zone season, The Gathering at Minneriya

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Dry-zone season (15 May – 15 Sep), The Gathering at Minneriya (15 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Northeast (Maha) monsoon

  15 Oct – 15 Jan · usuallyRisk

  The dry zone takes its rain now, in heavy evening bursts rather than all day. The stairs and the gallery are slick when it is wet, and the site closes the summit route in a thunderstorm.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Northeast (Maha) monsoon (15 Oct – 15 Jan (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Sri Lanka

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  20 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The cultural triangle is on every two-week Sri Lanka itinerary and they all run in this fortnight. Hotel rates around the rock double and the ticket queue starts before the gate opens. Source ↗

Still on: Hornets on the rock face (1 Jan – 31 Dec), Northeast (Maha) monsoon (15 Oct – 15 Jan (usually))