Pidurangala is big monolith rock , like Sigiriya Rock . It is situated 2 KM south of Sigiriya Rock . It’s upper surface is flat and higher than Sigiriya Rock . The caves of this place has been shelter by Buddhist monk for centuries . Historian believed that these caves have been inhabited from the pre – historic times . There is also a cave in which there is a big buddha statue, where buddha is sculpted in a lying posture. Amazing thing is this , the statue has been made by brick . Besides this you will find lots of caves used by the religious scholer . From the written history it is found that when king kashyap shift his capital from annuradhapura to sigiriya he requested the Buddhist monks to shift toward pidurangala as he is building the fortress in Sigiriya rock . Now it has been recognized as buddist monastery .
From the top of this rock , you can have a panoramic view of the Whole area . You can have a nice view of the Sigiriya rock and If , you have a telescope , then you can see also cave temple of dambulla from here . Price of the entry tickets for foreigner is 500 LKR , weather for the Sigiriya rock is 6000 LKR . For locals it is free . I think it is worth spending this money to come here rather than to spending lots money for Sigiriya .
Hiking trail is not prominent in all the way for the pidurangala rock . Upto the big buddha statue there is stairs and the way is prominent . But After that there no stairs , there is only some foot mark and some mark on the bolder beside the way . After sometime , this also almost vanished . Then you have to try it by yourself and by looking others . You should have a littlebit of Rock climbing skills to go to the top . Rocks are very slipery and you have to streach and bend your hands and legs to reach to the final destination . Specially after the big buddha statue the way becomes very tough . But after you reach to the top , view from here is incredible .
After reaching to the top you will feel an achievement . After reaching to the top they enjoy the panoramic view from here . The Amazing fact is that this two rocks are standing inside a large plain land . There is no mountain or hillock nearby .
How to reach to Pidurangala ?
For coming to the pidurangala rock first you have to reach to Sigiriya . From colombo and all major city , there is direct bus toward Dambulla city . From Dambulla you will get definite bus toward Sigiriya but buses are frequent only in specific time . In afternoon time there is very little buses . In afternoon I have to wait 1 hour to get a bus toward dambulla . Though I got the bus still it runs very slow , as there is very few passengers in this bus in afternoon time . Sigiriya to Dambulla is 18 km . From sigiriya rock fortress you have to walk / tuk tuk 3.5 km to reach to the Pidurangala rock . Sigiriya have a very small settlement . So better will be to staying in Dambulla city .
Caution :
- If you walk from sigiriya to Pidurangala , be aware the moat around the Sigiriya fortress . Because there is crocordile in the water .
- If you are not staying in Sigiriya , be prepared to leave the place early . As buses are not frequent from this place all time .
