Not a fan of museums as a rule, I went in because the entry was included in the expensive entry ticket to the Rock.The museum building itself is an architectural delight, including as it does a lovely water feature and it sort of turns itself inside out as you wander round (you'll see what I mean when you go). The... More

A well laid out museum which gives a good overview of Sigiriya Rock and its origins. Also plenty of room to see all the exhibits and read the detailed information.

Had a quick look in here and as it was just opening did not realise there was a video we could have seen. Was keen to start the climb before the day got too hot so probably didn't give this museum a good look. The replica paintings of the topless women was good to see as when we got to... More

Definitely visit this before you climb. There is a video showing an artists impression of what the palace could have looked like. This will let you appreciate the size and splendour once you reach the summit. Also some interesting archeological displays.

This refers to the museum built with Japanese funding a few years back. Already it is showing signs of wear and tear, and like the Sigiriya Rock site, is not adequately maintained. The building constitutes an appalling waste of aid money, not least because it is vastly over specified to house the few genuine antiquities on display.

This museum fills a very important gap for the people who visit this world heritage site. This will help you learn about the history of Sigiriya, and the back-story of king Kashyapa. Most people come to the museum after they climb the rock, but I'd suggest to do other way around. First visit the museum, know the back-story, and then... More

Very cool to see a video which shows what the fortress/monastery looked like when it was in use. For those who are not fit enough to reach the cave paintings, the museum has created a replica inside. Some other cool artifacts also. We went after the climb. I had read about Sigiriya on the Internet and in Lonely Planet so... More

We visited the museum before we climp up the rock. The introduction video was good but not great. But the visit of the museum was interesting. A lot of background information about the history of Sigiriya. Spending extra time in the museum gave us a better appreciation of the history and the rock itself.

The museum is one of the better ones in the Cultural Triangle (the other being in Polonnaruwa; you can skip those at Anuradhapura and Dambulla Cave temple) Gives a good history of the place. The under-floor model gives a good view of the whole historical area. Also the 3D video of the palace is excellent!