Sri Lanka is a paradise which has a lot to offer for those who are looking for a peaceful and relaxing holiday adventure. If you have decided on a one day Adventure, climbing the Pidurangala Rock is one of the best options and surely will be a memorable experience for you! You can find it standing next to his “big brother” the Lion’s Rock Sigiriya. The Sigiriya rock fortress is well known as the eighth wonder of the world which attracts thousands of tourists every year for its archaeological significance. You no need to choose between the two! If you want to experience both, you can start with Pidurangala rock and then climb Sigiriya. So lets take a look at of this mysterious Rock which has a lot more history.
This massive rock formation is located a few kilometers north of Sigiriya, near the town of Dambulla , in the northern Matale District, in the central province, Sri Lanka. If you are in the village of Sigiriya you can reach the entry point of Pidurangala Rock by bicycle which you can rent for a lesser amount. Comers of further areas, public transportation is the cheapest yet convinent option. If you are travelling from Colombo, go to Pettah Bus halt and get into a Anuradhapura , Polonnaruwa or Trinco bus (Either of these long distance buses ) and get off in Dambulla. From Dambulla, you can get into a sigiriya bus, get off from Sigiriya and then hire a Tuk which will cost around Rs.250 to Rs.300 and you will be at the Starting point!
The best times to climb the rock are early morning to witness the sunrise and late afternoon for the sunset. We began our walk early morning because it was said that the sunrise view from top of Pidurangala Rock is simply amazing! At the main entrance, you will see a white temple which will be the Pidurangala Sigiri Rajamaha viharaya. Onto your right there will be the path for the hike and here you will find a huge row of stairs. The stairs won’t last long so afterwards the path will be much easier except few boulders you meet through your way. But that’s not hard at all!
Reclining Buddha
Twenty to thirty minutes of climbing bought us through a series of caves and then we reached the large reclining Buddha. This graceful statue is about 12.5 meters in length, was built with bricks and is survived only by a few remains of the original structure. From this point onwards there will be just a Ten minutes trek remaining and this was my favorite part of the whole hike since it made us to scramble over few boulders to the summit!
At the Peak!
Once you finally hit the top of Pidurangala Rock you will witness the best panoramic view of the ancient Rock Fortress, Sigiriya. Not only that! If you reach the top before sunrise you will be cherished with the peaceful atmosphere up there while enjoying the sun light up the valley. I must say this hike is worth making. So do plan your next one day adventure to the captivating Pidurangala Rock!