The ancient Sri Lankan city of Sigiriya is famous for Lion’s Rock, a majestic natural megalith visible from miles around, and once used as an imposing rock fortress. But there’s also a lesser-known rock in Sigiriya, Pidurangala Rock, that you can hike up for the most incredible panoramic views and beautiful sunsets over the world-famous Lion’s Rock.
Hiking Sri Lanka’s Pidurangala Rock for the Best Views of Sigiriya Lion’s Rock
Pidurangala Rock is located opposite the world-famous Sigiriya Lion Rock, and makes a great secret (or now not-so-secret) alternative to climbing Lion’s Rock itself. Personally I much preferred the view from Pidurangala Rock as then you can actually see Lion’s Rock in the distance, rather than being right on top of it. Best enjoyed for sunrise or sunset, Pidurangala definitely has the best views in Sigiriya!
Read on for everything you need to know about hiking Sri Lanka’s Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya, from how to get there, entrance fee, timings and everything else you need to know to make the experience an enjoyable one. Call of the World readers get a 5% discount on Heymondo travel insurance using my link: an absolute must!
Where is Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock is located in Sigiriya, a magical destination right in the heart of Sri Lanka and home to the famous Lion’s Rock. This fascinating Lion’s Rock complex features a fortress built in 480AD right on top or the rock, with an ancient palace, gardens and pools, all towering over the jungle below.
This unique and ancient palace complex on top of Lion’s Rock makes Sigiriya a must-see destination on any Sri Lankan bucket list. But, entrance tickets for Lion’s Rock itself are pretty expensive at US$30.
This makes neighbouring Pidurangala Rock a fantastic alternative, as it’s considerably cheaper and the views are in my opinion even better! If I had to only choose one out of the two, I’d go for Pidurangala.
History of Pidurangala Rock
Pidurangala Rock was the site of a Buddhist monastery dating from the 1st and 2nd centuries BC. King Kashyapa, who built the fortress on Lion’s Rock, moved monks from Sigiriya to Pidurangala to clear space for his new palace and fortress.
The temple (Pidurangala Vihara) was cut into the rock itself, and you can still see a giant reclining Buddha there. Historians believe that the name “Pidurangala” means “offered piles of gold” or “golden monastery”, signifying the exchange that King Kashyapa offered the monks to move from Lion’s Rock to a new temple in Pidurangala instead.
Pidurangala Rock opening hours & entrance fees
The opening hours of Pidurangala Rock vary depending on the time of year, but the ticket office is generally open from roughly 5am to 6pm.
The entrance fee to Pidurangala Rock is only 1000LKR (less than US$3), which makes it significantly cheaper than the LKR 6,000 (US$30) entrance fee for Sigiriya Lion’s Rock.
Should I hike Pidurangala Rock for sunrise or sunset?
Hiking Pidurangala Rock is a magical experience both at sunrise and at sunset, as you can sit and watch the light change over the surrounding landscape.
If you decide to hike up Pidurangala Rock for sunrise, remember to bring a torch with you. For sunset this is less important as you should be able to make it back down again before it gets completely dark.
How long does it take to hike Pidurangala Rock?
The hike up Pidurangala Rock is fairly short and only took me around 20-30 minutes (I wasn’t counting but I don’t remember it taking long).
You do need to be relatively fit to hike Pidurangala Rock as the way up has a decent incline and there is a section at the very end that’s a little harder to climb and you need to scramble over boulders. Unfortunately the Pidurangala Rock hike is not accessible for those with mobility issues.
Pidurangala Rock temple
You pass through a small temple built into the rock on your way up Pidurangala Rock. Women will need to cover their shoulders for this section, but scarves are provided free-of-charge that you can borrow and then return on your way back down.
Where to get the best photos of Sigiriya Lion’s Rock from Pidurangala Rock?
The view from the top of Pidurangala Rock is absolutely stunning, and it’s not hard to take incredible photos. There’s plenty of space at the top of Pidurangala Rock for everyone to sit and look out over the views without needing to queue for photos.
Don’t just stay in the first section. Although photos here are great, there’s also a large section around the other side of the large boulder and trees.
How to get to Pidurangala Rock?
I personally walked from my homestay (Amba Sewana Homestay) near central Sigiriya over to the base of Pidurangala Rock. It’s a nice walk that goes past the entrance to the Lion’s Rock complex where there is also a cafe and toilet block.
There’s plenty of parking at the base of Pidurangala, and also at the Lion’s Rock complex itself if you’d rather walk part of the way. Just make sure you close the windows as there’s lots of cheeky monkeys around on the hunt for snacks!
Alternatively you can just take a tuk tuk from central Sigiriya directly to the base of Pidurangala Rock.
What time of year should I visit Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya?
The best time of year to hike Pidurangala is dry season, which in this area of Sri Lanka runs from late December to early April. Note that it does get very hot and also quite humid at this time of year.
What should I wear to hike Pidurangala Rock?
The weather in Sri Lanka is generally hot, and Sigiriya gets quite humid. I recommend wearing light, loose layers. Definitely bring sun protection as it is quite exposed at the top. I wore hiking boots to climb Pidurangala Rock but to be honest trainers would be fine.
Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you, especially if you’re hiking in the middle of the day. It’s easy to get dehydrated in the Sri Lankan climate.
Where next after Pidurangala Rock in Sigiriya?
Exploring Sri Lanka for longer? Discover my 3-week Sri Lanka itinerary below:
📍 How to Spend 3 Weeks in Sri Lanka: Epic Itinerary
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