Towering above the landscape a few miles away from Sigiriya, the Pidurangala Rock is one of the best locations to go hiking in Sri Lanka. Despite not being as popular as Sigiriya, Pidurangala has its inimitable charm and holds endless potential for thrilling adventures and experiences.
The rock itself is around 200m high and is north of Sigiriya – which is only a meter higher than Pidurangala! Its name roughly translates to “offered piles of gold”, perhaps in reference to the fact that pilgrims would offer tribute to the Buddhist monks that once sought sanctuary atop the rock. Pidurangala was once a fully-fledged Buddhist monastery thought to have been established back during the reign of King Kashyapa around the second century. There are still remnants from this time as hikers will no doubt come across ancient cave temples and Buddha statues as they continue their ascent upwards.
The main draw of the hike up Pidurangala is the view. Once you reach the peak you’ll be treated to an unparalleled vista of the landscape – verdant expanses of forest, mountain ranges in the distance capped off by Sigiriya which stands proud amidst it all. If you get your timings right, you’ll reach the peak just in time for the sunset which can be quite the spectacular sight all on its own – think golden rays slowly descending past the rolling hills in the distance.
The hike itself is a challenging one – though by no means impossible – making it all the more rewarding once you complete it and reach the top. Halfway up, you’ll come across the Pidurangala Temple. Here most of the structures have unfortunately fallen into ruin save for one – a huge reclining Buddha statue. This unmissable work of art is among the largest reclining Buddha statues in the world and is quite an impressive sight to see in-person.
