Pidurangala Rock
Sum up
Pidurangala is an enormous rock located a few kilometres north of Sigiriya. The two rocks have an interlinked history: whilst King Kasyapa was building Sigiriya Rock Fortress in the 5th century, he moved monks living around Sigiriya to a new monastery on Pidurangala Rock. An ancient cave temple still houses objects from various vintages that reflect Buddhist, Hindu and western beliefs, and the stupa to the left of the temple entrance is believed to mark the spot where King Kasyapa was cremated. Pidurangala is a more challenging climb than Sigiriya, so should not be attempted by those with poor physical fitness. There is no clear path to the top: steep, uneven steps give way to an expanse of boulders and crevices that climbers must navigate in order to reach the summit. From the top, there are glorious vistas of the surrounding landscape and an incredible view of the majestic Sigiriya Rock. Allow about two hours, which should leave time for relaxation and photographs. Although Pidurangala lacks the global appeal of Sigiriya, if you pick your time wisely it is almost certain to be much quieter and it is certainly cheaper.
Duration: 3 hour
Best Time: Year-round
Popular Activities
Anuradhapura Sum up Anuradhapura was Sri Lanka’s first civilisation and the centre-point of the island’s greatest kingdoms, acting as the royal capital …
Dambulla Cave Temple Sum up Dambulla Cave Temple is one of the most popular religious cultural sites in Sri Lanka, attracting tourists …
Polonnaruwa Sum up The well-preserved ruins of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka’s medieval royal capital, are one of the country’s most prominent cultural sites. …
Sigiriya Rock Fortress Sum up Sigiriya is one of the most dramatic and inspiring historical locations in the world, a huge rock …
Traditional Sri Lankan Village Life Sum up Discover the authentic rural charm of Sri Lankan village life. Simple and peaceful, life in …
Pidurangala Rock Sum up Pidurangala is an enormous rock located a few kilometres north of Sigiriya. The two rocks have an interlinked …
Sri Lanka Hot Air Ballooning Sum up Red Dot now offers hot air ballooning in the Cultural Triangle, a dramatic and rewarding …
Minneriya National Park Sum up Minneriya National Park is a small but popular wildlife park home to a wide range of Sri …
The Monkey Kingdom of Polonnaruwa Sum up Quite apart from the incredible ruins of this medieval city, Polonnaruwa is home to a …
Wasgamuwa National Park Sum up Wasgamuwa is a remote national park which is home to a wide variety of Sri Lankan wildlife, …
Kaludiya Pokuna Sum up Kaludiya Pokuna Forest near Kandalama – not to be confused with the ‘Kaludiya Pokuna’ close to Mihintale – …
The Aukana Buddha Sum up The Aukana Buddha statue in Sri Lanka is not only the tallest ancient Buddha statue in Sri …
Aluvihara Cave Temple Sum up The ancient Aluvihara cave temple is on the outskirts of Matale, north of Kandy, and has great …