The Sigiriya region of Sri Lanka is most known for the famous Lion Rock. It is an ancient rock fortress that dates back to 477-495 AD. Climbing Lion Rock to visit the remains of the ancient civilization that used it as a fortress is the main reason people travel to Sigiriya.
But 1 kilometer north of Lion Rock is another rock mountain worth climbing: Pidurangala.
Although Pidurangala doesn’t have ancient ruins at its summit, this small mountain is well worth climbing because it delivers arguably the best view of Lion Rock and the surrounding region, in all of Sigiriya.
Read on to learn why you should climb Pidurangala, and tips for climbing Pidurangala Rock.
- Climbing Pidurangala Rock: The Basics
- 10 Essential Tips for Climbing Pidurangala Rock
- 1. Book Accommodation in Sigiriya Village
- 2. Plan to Stay 2 to 3 Days
- 3. Check the Weather Forecast
- 4. Plan to Climb Pidurangala Rock at Sunrise
- 5. Wear Proper Footwear and Clothing
- 6. Bring Water, Snacks, and a Flashlight
- 7. Arrive At Pidurangala Rock Early
- 8. Climb Slowly and Carefully
- 9. Stay for the Full Sunrise
- 10. Visit Temples As You Descend
- Final Thoughts: Is Climbing Pidurangala Rock Worth It?
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Climbing Pidurangala Rock: The Basics
Before sharing my most important tips for climbing Pidurangala Rock, let’s cover the most common questions that come up about this hike in central Sri Lanka.
What is Pidurangala Rock?
Pidurangala Rock is a small, volcanic mountain in central Sri Lanka. It is 200 meters (656 feet) tall, and has a flat top, which makes the summit of Pidurangala a perfect view point for the Sigiriya region. From the top of Pidurangala Rock, you have far-reaching views of Sigiriya Village, Lion Rock, fields, lakes, and jungle.
How hard is it to climb Pidurangala Rock?
Pidurangala Rock is a short hike that is mostly moderate. The majority of the trail is a well-worn path going along a medium incline, with occasional stairs. There is a brief section of the trail right as you reach the top that is challenging, because you’re required to scramble up between a few large boulders. The climb takes most people around 30 minutes to complete.
When is the best time to climb Pidurangala Rock?
The best time to climb Pidurangala Rock is early in the morning. Going at this time delivers a beautiful view of Sigiriya as the sun rises, and you also avoid the midday heat and crowds. If a sunrise climb isn’t possible, I recommend climbing Pidurangala Rock for sunset instead. In the evening, temperatures are cooler and you can enjoy watching the sunset from the top of Pidurangala.
Is there a fee to climb Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya?
Yes, there’s an entrance fee of 1000 LKR ($3.09 USD / $4.57 CAD) per person before starting the climb (as of June 2024). You pay the fee at a small stand at the start of the trailhead. The fee can only be paid in cash, and I recommend bringing exact.
10 Essential Tips for Climbing Pidurangala Rock
Ready to visit an epic view point in Sigiriya? Here are 10 essential tips for climbing Pidurangala Rock.
1. Book Accommodation in Sigiriya Village
On the outskirts of Lion Rock and Pidurangala Rock, there’s a growing village of homestays, hotels, and restaurants, there to support visitors coming to see Sigiriya. This village is referred to as Sigiriya Village, and it’s where you’ll want to stay for the most convenience.
Depending on where in the village you stay (it’s quite spread out), the starting point for climbing Pidurangala is only a 15 minute drive. You’ll appreciate this, particularly if you climb Pidurangala at sunrise!
We really loved Sigiriya, and ended up spending longer there than we expected. We had booked three days, but ended up staying five. Because we extended our stay, we had to switch our accommodation in Sigiriya Village halfway through.
Our first few nights were in a simple homestay (no AC), and then we switched to a family-owned hotel which had AC, but was pricier. Here are the details of both places we stayed.
Kalana Homestay
What not to do in Sri Lanka? Don’t skip experiencing a homestay! Booking at least one homestay is a great way to get a glimpse into Sri Lankan life.
We spent our first 3 nights in Sigiriya in Kalana Homestay. This is a no-frills, budget option in a great location – close to dining, coffee, and more. Kalana Homestay is run by a lovely Sri Lankan family that gladly helped us sort out our plans and gave us lots of great advice.
The rooms are simple but clean and comfy. The only downside of Kalana Homestay is that there isn’t air conditioning (AC). This is something we got used to in Sri Lanka, but I know it’s a non-negotiable for some.
I find that a shower before bed does the trick in hot climates, so the lack of AC at Kalana Homestay didn’t bother me. This is a great option if you want to do a homestay in a great location, for a great price.
Sigiriya Paradise Inn
After three nights in Kalana Homestay, we moved to Sigiriya Paradise Inn. This small, family-run hotel is a mid-range option versus budget option. The rooms have air conditioning, and the hotel provides breakfast.
Our room at Sigiriya Paradise Inn was impeccably clean and spacious, and the beds were super comfy.
But what made Sigiriya Paradise Inn stand out was its location. The hotel is on the edge of rice fields, and from the upper balcony of the building, you have a beautiful view of the fields and surrounding region.
There aren’t quite as many restaurants near Sigiriya Paradise Inn, but I think the trade-off for the view of the rice fields is worth it!
2. Plan to Stay 2 to 3 Days
You don’t want to rush through Sigiriya. Although this region is most known for Lion Rock and Pidurangala, there is more to see, like the Royal Cave Temple in nearby Dambulla.
I recommend spending at least two days in Sigiriya. This will give you enough time to visit Lion Rock, climb Pidurangala Rock, and visit the temples of Dambulla.
If you are able, spend 3 days in Sigiriya. With three days, you can see all the highlights without feeling rushed, and you’ll have time to visit the lesser-known points of interest in the area, like Mapagala Fortress.
3. Check the Weather Forecast
Assuming you spend 2 to 3 days in Sigiriya, you will be able to choose the morning you climb Pidurangala Rock. If you have this flexibility, check the weather forecast before choosing which morning.
Weather throughout Sri Lanka varies, especially during monsoon season, and so there is always a chance that you’ll have a cloudy or foggy morning when you climb Pidurangala. Choose the morning that has the clearest forecast so that you maximize the likelihood of a beautiful sunrise.
We did not check the forecast, and we ended up with a foggy morning. Despite this, the climb was absolutely still worth it. Although we didn’t have a colorful sunrise, the fog cleared, and we did have beautiful views of the surrounding region and Lion Rock.
If the forecast doesn’t look promising for the days you are in Sigiriya, climb Pidurangala anyways. If there is fog when you reach the top, be patient and stick around. It will likely clear!
4. Plan to Climb Pidurangala Rock at Sunrise
The best time to climb Pidurangala Rock is early in the morning – before the sun has risen. Climbing Pidurangala in the dark means you’ll be treated to a beautiful sunrise view when you reach the top. Climbing at sunrise also means you’ll avoid the midday heat, and the midday crowds.
If a sunrise climb isn’t possible, I recommend climbing Pidurangala Rock for sunset instead. In the evening, temperatures are cooler and you can enjoy watching the sunset from the top of Pidurangala.
5. Wear Proper Footwear and Clothing
While most of the climb up Pidurangala Rock is moderate, the final few minutes are spent scrambling up large rock boulders. Because of this, it’s very important to wear supportive footwear.
I do not recommend attempting this hike in flip flops. Wear running shoes, or supportive sandals that have good traction. I wore Teva sandals, which were perfect.
As you start out the hike in the dark, it will be a little chilly. I wore a light sweater which I quickly removed once I warmed up from the walking, and then put back on when we reached the top.
Along the trail there are a few religious sites. In Sri Lanka, you should have your knees and shoulders covered when visiting religious sites like temples. If you would like to visit these sites on your way back down from Pidurangala Rock, be sure to dress appropriately, or carry a sarong with you.
6. Bring Water, Snacks, and a Flashlight
Even for short hikes, it’s important to be prepared. I recommend bringing a small pack with plenty of drinking water, and a couple snacks (I brought bananas). There aren’t any vendors selling water or food on this hike.
If you are climbing up Pidurangala Rock for sunrise, the hike up will be very dark. You’ll need a flashlight, headlamp, or the flashlight on your mobile phone. We used our phones which was sufficient. Just make sure your phone is charged!
7. Arrive At Pidurangala Rock Early
When we visited Sigiriya in February, sunrise time was 6:00 AM. It can take 30 minutes to climb up Pidurangala, and we were staying at Kalana Homestay, about 10 minutes from the base of the rock. Given all this, we left our homestay at 5:00 AM to make sure we had plenty of time to catch the sunrise.
You will want to base your timing on where you are staying in Sigiriya Village, and how fast a walker / hiker you are. You don’t want to miss any of the sunrise, so I would start your morning a bit earlier than you think you need to, so you have wiggle room.
8. Climb Slowly and Carefully
Pidurangala Rock is a short hike that is mostly moderate. The majority of the trail is a well-worn path going along a medium incline, with occasional stairs. The further down the trail you go, the steeper the incline becomes.
Right at the end of the hike, you reach a brief section of the trail that is challenging because you’re required to scramble up between a few large boulders. We managed this part of the climb with no problems – I think our history of rock climbing back home helped.
However, we did notice some older people on the trail ahead of us struggling with this part. They made it just fine with the help of their family, but I can imagine that people with mobility issues might find it too challenging.
Be sure to handle this last portion of the trail slowly and carefully. You will be grateful at this point for the good shoes you’re wearing!
The climb up takes most people around 30 minutes to complete. The climb down goes faster, we did it in around 20 minutes.
9. Stay for the Full Sunrise
After an early morning climb up Pidurangala Rock, you should enjoy the reward – which is beautiful views!
We noticed that some climbers left Pidurangala Rock a few minutes after sunrise, which is a shame, because as the sun rose higher in the sky, the light gradually changed. It was a foggy morning, and the longer we stayed, the more clear the views became.
As with any travel experience, I think it’s important not to rush. Take the time to soak it all up. Be sure to wander all around the top of Pidurangala Rock to take in the different views.
10. Visit Temples As You Descend
On the climb up Pidurangala Rock, you’ll pass two religious sites. A Buddhist temple, and a large reclining Buddha. If you climb Pidurangala for sunrise it will be too dark to visit these sites on your way up, so be sure to stop at both of them on the way down.
Buddhist monks have lived in the caves of Pidurangala Rock for centuries. However, the first temple on the mountain was constructed during the reign of King Kasyapa (477 CE – 495 CE).
On the climb down, you will first come to the large reclining Buddha. The Buddha is built into the side of Pidurangala Rock, and at one time, it was the largest reclining Buddha made of brick, in the entire world.
Toward the end of the hike down, you’ll come to a Buddhist temple called Pidurangala Vihara. The white building was constructed in the 1930’s, but it protects cave paintings that date back thousands of years.
Be sure to pop in to take a look, but note that this is an active religious site, so you are expected to wear appropriate clothing that covers your shoulders and knees.
On your way back into Sigiriya Village, stop by Barista Coffee on Sigiriya Road. This is a coffee chain in Sri Lanka that serves fantastic espresso drinks. If you’re like me, you’ll be craving a good coffee after your early morning start!
Final Thoughts: Is Climbing Pidurangala Rock Worth It?
Visiting Sigiriya is worth it, and climbing Pidurangala Rock is absolutely worth it. While in Sigiriya, most people we met agreed that the views from Pidurangala are more impressive than the views from Lion Rock.
From the top of Pidurangala, you have an epic view of Sigiriya Lion Rock, surrounded by jungle. And given how affordable the tickets for climbing Pidurangala are, I think it’s a must-do while in Sigiriya.
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Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.