Pidurangala Rock Hike – Sigiriya’s Cheaper Alternative!
Pidurangala Rock
Overlooked by many, Pidurangala Rock sits adjacent to the famous Sigiriya Lion Rock and is equally as impressive and a lot cheaper!
Often referred to as the 8th wonder of the world, Sigiriya, in the heart of Sri Lanka is regarded as one of the ‘must see’ places to visit.
But the steep cost of $30 makes it an expensive trip!
An alternative is Pidurangala rock at a fraction of the cost – 500LKR
Sigiriya vs Pidurangala – weighing it up
Cost
Pidurangala – 500 LKR
Sigiriya – 6000 LKR ($30)
Pidurangala Rock is significantly cheaper!
Views
The views from both Sigiriya and Pidurangala are epic to say the least. From both rocks you reap the rewards of your uphill hike, to be treated to magnificent panoramic vistas – rice paddies, forests, lakes and villages.
However, from Pidurangala, the added bonus is you gain an awesome view of the lion rock itself, which believe me is stunning.
Number of visitors
Have you heard of Pidurangala? Probably not.
Pidurangala is not unheard of, but significantly less popular than Sigiriya, and whilst you won’t be alone, you won’t be hiking at the heels of other visitors. I visited Sigiriya five years ago, and it was busy busy busy and as Sri Lanka’s number one tourist attraction it’s hardly surprising.
Fast forward five years, just following the pandemic lockdowns (so visitors are fewer in number anyway), I stood at the top of Pidurangala and from the distance I could see the snake like procession of people making their way up Sigiriya. So, if you want to avoid crowds, opt for Pidurangala,
Quality of the hike
Sigiriya – the pathway is well marked out, it’s steep but it’s not too difficult with a moderate level of fitness.
Pidurangala – the pathway is well marked out until you are close to the top, then it gets tricky. There are manmade steps until you reach the Pidurangala cave temple, but then the path vanishes, and you have to scramble and pull yourself up over large rocks and boulders.
Big red arrows painted on boulders show you the direction to go, but you need a bit of nerve and to not be afraid of balancing on rocks.
However, I managed it and bear in mind I’m 48, there had been heavy rain so the terrain was very slippery and I was alone. Admittedly, as I edged my way back down a kind Buddhist monk showed me the best places to angle my feet on the rocks because it was a little scary!
Important: Pidurangala is not an accessible hike if you are unfit or injured.
Rock Heights
Sigiriya – 200 m
Pidurangala – 199 m
Not much in it!
Quality of the ruins
There really is no comparison here, if it’s ruins you’re after, then go to Sigiriya. Sigiriya, is an ancient Palace fortress built in 480 AD at the top of a rock island. It’s home to palace ruins, gardens, waterways, ancient frescoes and monuments.
In contrast, Pidurangala has a crumbling cave temple with a partially reconstructed reclining buddha. The brickwork seen here is supposedly divided meditational spaces for the monks.
A few tips for visiting Pidurangala
Climbing time – it takes between 30 minutes – 45 minutes depending on your level of fitness (and the weather).
Footwear – don’t wear flip flops/thongs, you need robust footwear as there are loose rocks and your flip flops may go flying when you scramble over the boulders at the top.
Cover – ensure your knees and shoulders are covered until you reach the Buddhist Temple. You will not be allowed up unless you are covered up. You can remove them once you are past the temple.
Remove shoes – you must remove your shoes until you reach the temple.
Ticket office – opens 5 am to 6 pm, but you can stay later.
No plastic – this is a plastic free site, so avoid taking plastic water bottles. If you do have plastic, keep them in your bag.
Water and snacks – do take, as you’ll need them at the top!
Snakes – there are snakes in the area, so keep a watch out. I asked about this, and I was told if you see a snake just let it pass. I didn’t see any this time, but I have seen them at Sigiriya.
Distance from Sigiriya town – 2.4 km (takes less that 10 minutes in a tuk tuk).
Solo woman traveller advice – because of the bouldering aspect, I’d strongly suggest you ensure you’re following other people up in case you should slip. This shouldn’t be difficult as it’s a relatively popular hike with both locals and tourists.
Very Brief History
In the 5th Century King Kashyapa wanted to build a fortress at the top of Sigiriya, but discovered it was already home to a Buddhist monastery. He offered to build the monks a similar monastery at the adjacent Pidurangala Rock. The monks clearly agreed, and a Buddhist monastery named the ‘Golden Monastery’ was built in the caves and rocks of Pidurangala. The temple consisted of five buildings called ‘Panchavasa’.
Today, little remains of the monastery, other than a partially reconstructed reclining 46 m Buddha which at one point in time, was the largest brick statue of a reclining Buddha statue.
Archaeological Site at the base of Pidurangala
At the base of the the rock there is archaeological site, which I think is also worth a wander. The most prominent feature is a central stupa.
It’s a very peaceful site, and when I walked around I was the only one there. It seems most visitors climb the rock and leave.
Getting to Pidurangala
From Sigiriya village – you can get a tuk tuk for 200-300 LKR each way. The driver will wait for you, if you ask him. If you decide to take this option, make sure you leave yourself sufficient time to enjoy the hike. My driver, said most people need 1 hour and without thinking I agreed. I ended up calling him from the top of the rock to tell him I needed 2 hours.
From Dambulla – there are regular buses that go from Dabulla to Sigiriya. It costs 50 LKR and takes about 30 minutes. You can then get a tuk tuk from Sigiriya.
If you don’t mind spending the money, you can get a tuk tuk from Dambulla to Pidurangala, costing 1000 LKR each way.