Pidurangala Rock provides epic views of the surrounding area, a historic cave complex of its own, a tenth of the crowds, and the most incredible view overlooking the famous Sigiriya rock.
Hiking Pidurangala Rock for sunrise has become a very unique experience for many travelers to Sri Lanka. From the peak, travelers can watch the stunning sunrise from the rock-top viewpoint, with panoramic vistas over Sigiriya in the distance.
The journey starts at Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha Viharaya, a white temple at the base of the rock. The trail itself follows a well maintained, if slightly off-road pathway through the jungle, slowly ascending over rocks and tree roots, through caves, and past rocky cliffs before making its way to the first stop on the hike, Pidurangala temple. The next part of the hike is somewhat tricky which is about a 15 minute hike that requires a decent amount of bouldering, climbing and shimmying between giant boulders and cliffs. After a few large steps, you’ll tackle one final lunge to get onto the main part of Pidurangala rock, before a small walk up to witness the panoramic views you’ve been waiting to see. The majority of the summit is a curved rock which allows for plenty of exploration.
At the Pidurangala temple, the most impressive sight is a 12m reclining Buddha which takes pride of place under rock face. Parts of the original structure remain intact, while the rest has been reconstructed using bricks, including the head, which was removed by treasure hunters.
Things to know
Pidurangala Rock is situated about 10 minutes from the center of Sigiriya. Dambulla is the biggest town situated close to Sigiriya. Many travelers use this as their base for exploring the cultural triangle and hiking Pidurangala. The distance from Dambulla to Sigiriya is 20 km and takes about 30 minutes. The easiest way to get from Dambulla to Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya is with a tuk-tuk.
Reaching the top of Pidurangala Rock takes 30-45 minutes, depending on your pace.
The Pidurangala entrance fee is 500 LKR ($3) per person