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Pidurangala Rock Hike In Sigiriya, Sri Lanka: Complete Guide

Pidurangala Rock Hike In Sigiriya, Sri Lanka: Complete Guide

Sigiriya Rock is the number one tourist attraction in Sri Lanka and the main reason most tourists travel to Sigiriya. But it was another adventure that captivated me during our stay in Sigiriya. In fact, many other travelers I spoke to also agreed that Sigiriya Rock was great but it was Pidurangala Rock that was the more memorable experience when it comes to listing their favorite places to visit in Sri Lanka.

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A Guide to Pidurangala Rock

While Sigiriya Rock is rich in history and has some pretty dramatic features such as the lion’s paw and the mirror wall, Pidurangala Rock has a much more natural feel, despite also housing a temple.

Pidurangala Rock is adjacent to Sigiriya Rock and is the best viewing spot of Sigiriya Rock as it is only slightly lower. Pidurangala is a popular spot for sunrise as you can enjoy 360-degree views of not only the valleys but also Sigiriya Rock.

There is no need to choose between the two. Many travelers wake up for the sunrise at Pidurangala and then head to sunset on top of Sigiriya Rock. This is exactly what I did and I highly recommend it.

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Pidurangala Rock Hike

At the base of Pidurangala Rock, you will find Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya, which is a white temple. Pass through the temple and pay the $3 USD entrance fee (much lower than the $30 USD entry fee for Sigiriya Rock. At this point, women can also loan a scarf to cover their shoulders and legs if they forgot to bring one or wear longer clothing.

Tip: If you are on a tight budget, definitely do the Pidurangala Hike as you will still get to enjoy Sigiriya Rock but $30 is a lot for a backpacker on a budget.

The hike doesn’t ease you in. After only a few minutes we were at the base of a huge row of stairs. Not what you want at five in the morning but they didn’t last long.

The hike only took us 20 minutes and was relatively easy despite the incline and some parts of the path being a little bit ‘off-road’.

Halfway through the hike, you will reach the Pidurangala Temple, which takes you back in time although not quite rivaling the history of Sigiriya Rock.

What are my favorite pieces of hiking gear?

There are four pieces of gear that I simply never forget when I go on a hike. These are four items that I using right now and this list gets updated every year! Here are my hiking essentials.

  • Arcteryx BETA AR Rain Jacket: This is my go-to rain jacket. It’s super light, folds down into a tiny ball, and protects brilliantly in a storm. This one never leaves my backpack.
  • Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots: For the best ankle support, waterproofing, and durable exterior I’m a fan of tough but light hiking boots like these Salomons for my adventures.
  • Black Diamond Head Torch: I can’t tell you how many times, I’ve arrived back from a hike unexpectedly late. I always keep this lightweight but strong headtorch in my bag for the unexpected.
  • Darn Tough Socks: These are the most comfortable hiking socks I’ve ever worn and last for years. They also have a lifetime warranty and you just send them in with a hole and they replace it no questions asked.

Pidurangala Temple

The Royal Cave Temple is survived only by a few remains. A rock wall still stands to show the foundation of what was once a rock temple. We missed it on the way up in the dark but stopped to check it out on the way down. A huge reclining Buddha, lays inside the temple and we also didn’t stop to take it in on the hike up but it was unmissable on the way down. It has been reconstructed with bricks but much of the original structure remains intact.

THREE TOURS I RECOMMEND IN SRI LANKA

Before we get into the list of the top things to do in Sri Lanka, I wanted to share with you three of my favorite tours in Sri Lanka.

Golden Hour Safari: The most popular safari tour is the Golden Hour Safari Experience in Yala National Park

Whale Watching: The Morning Whale Watching Tour from Mirissa Beach is one of the most popular activities in the entire country. See a variety of animals including blue whales, sperm whales, and dolphins from the observation deck.

Sigiriya Rock Tour: Discover the Sigirya rock fortress on a 2-3-hour walking trip which will provide an insight into the art, tradition, and history of Sri Lanka. Book your tour: Sigiriya Rock Climb Guided Tour

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Pidurangala Hike: Reaching the Viewpoint

After you reach the temple there are only 5-10 minutes of trekking remaining. However, this part of the trail involves some bouldering. While it may seem easy to many it might be a bit challenging for some. There are no dangerous sections just a few boulders, which require a big step up.

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Sunrise view from Pidurangala Rock

Once you reach the top you will have the best seat in the house (the whole of Sigiriya) for not only the sunrise but also of Sigiriya Rock. The sun doesn’t rise directly over the Sigiriya Rock but it was still a beautiful way to start the morning watching the sun light up the valley.

We arrived an hour before sunrise. Typical photographers running by the motto, ‘It’s better to be early than late.’ However, it was nice to just sit and chill, enjoying the isolation and peace up top. Only a couple of other tourists joined us closer to sunrise time. If you want to time it perfectly I would arrive about 45 minutes before the official sunrise time for that day, although this depends on how long the hike will take you.

It’s definitely worth the early wake-up and was one of my cherished moments from my time in Sri Lanka. Sunset at Pidurangala Rock would also be spectacular as it was over at Sigiriya Rock!

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WHERE TO STAY NEAR PIDURANGALA ROCK AND SIGIRIYA ROCK

We stayed at Hotel Sigiriya, which is the most popular hotel in the region and is incredibly luxurious. This is how you do Sigiriya in style! It has a pool with a view of Sigiriya Rock, in case you didn’t get a good enough view at Pidurangala.

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10 Awesome Things To Do in Sri Lanka - By Bree & Dylan

Tuesday 28th of September 2021

[…] you’re exploring Sigiriya, we recommend climbing the equally impressive Pidurangala Rock. Here you can see some unique views of Lion Rock from another perspective. Sitting up there at […]

15 coisas incríveis para fazer em Sri Lanka - Kanguroo Viagem

Tuesday 18th of February 2020

[…] Leia o post completo do blog: Pidurangala Rock Hike […]

Mani

Wednesday 1st of January 2020

Climb could be bit hard for elders and women. Great view up for photographers.And so windy up. Be careful with possible slippery since medication will take time unless you have first aid kit.

Tom

Wednesday 4th of September 2019

hi Jackson , you have wrote " I've never spent more than $12 a night on accommodation " in your ABOUT , then you putting details about luxury Hotel Sigiriya were you spend night . I just check , the cheapest room is for $80 . Also I looked on the rest recommended hotels by you in this Country - well the cheapest was around $50 and rest were from 120 up to 220 dollars . So, do you really never spend more $12 for accommodation ? Ask yourself if you want to be trustfull blogger.

Jackson

Wednesday 4th of September 2019

Hi Tom,

I visited Hotel Sigiriya on a campaign with the Tourism Board. I didn't pay for it. I recommend many different hotels and hostels at a variety of prices and quality throughout this blog because not one size fits all. This blog is read by more than half a million people per month so recommending a suitable accommodation for everyone is not possible. Ask yourself... Are you thinking things through? :)

michelle

Tuesday 29th of January 2019

Hi Jackson, would you please tell us the secret about how to stay in Sigiriya hotel spending less than $ 12 a night? Thank you

Jackson

Tuesday 29th of January 2019

Hi Michelle,

That was with a trip with Sri Lanka Tourism board so they did cover the accommodation. Sigiriya Hotel is pretty fancy and is yes more than $12 a night.