Pidurangala Rock

Located a few kilometers away, adjacent to the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress is the considerably overlooked Pidurangala Rock. But while it’s not as culturally significant or historically appreciated as Sigiriya, climbing Pidurangala is definitely worth it and the views from the top are just as beautiful – it offers a stunning picture of the imposing Lion Rock, especially during sunrise!

The 200m high rock has a history that’s interlaced with Sigiriya. Records confirm that when King Kasyapa came into power in 477 BC, with the intention of building his fortress, he asked the monks dwelling in Sigiriya to move and they consequently settled in Pidurangala making it their monastery for the years to come. Today the Pidurangala Rock Complex carries importance for Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

What’s so great about climbing Pidurangala?

It’s an adventurous climb. Compared to the orderly and packed climb in Sigiriya, Pidurangala is less touristic and gives space to breathe and take in the stunning surroundings. It also offers some interesting things to see while hiking. One of them is the ancient, and massive, reclining Buddha Statue that stretches to 12.5 meters! The start of the hike is considerably steady with thousands of years old steps lining the way. But as you go up through the forest and past the ancient temple complex, the hike gets trickier and much more exciting. Pidurangala is best hiked with a partner or in a group as the path has massive boulders that needs to be scaled to reach the top that can be quite dangerous.




Written By: Kavisha Perera