Usually shadowed by the famous ancient Rock Fortress of Sigiriya, Pidurangala Rock is a magnificent rock to visit if you’re in the area! Although in Sigiriya, hotel options are quite abundant; properties such as Sigiriya Jungles are in closer proximity to the Sigiriya Rock Fortress and the Pidurangala Rock Temple. Therefore you won’t have to spend time on the road travelling between both these two magnificent rocks!
Pidurangala Rock overlooks the breathtaking Sigiriya Rock which is just a few kilometres away. A history in close ties with that of Sigiriya, this rock is not as popular as the Rock Fortress but has a rich history and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding lands and the Sigiriya Rock. Unlike Sigiriya Rock though, the Pidurangala Rock is much harder to climb, which makes it less of a tourist attraction.
The area of Pidurangala was believed to have been in occupation for more than 2500 years, mostly by monks who occupied the spaces in the caves. It is known that King Kasayapa who reigned from 477 to 495 AD and built his palace on Sigiriya moved the monks from the area of Sigiriya to a larger temple and monastery on Pidurangala.
Once you begin exploring the grounds, you’ll come across a reclining Buddha statue that measures to about 12.5 meters in length and was once known to be one the largest Buddha statues in the world that was made from brick and plastered with lime and clay that was believed to have been used from the time of King Kasyapa. The white temple structure built near the main entrance was said to be constructed in the 1930s but the temple located within the cave dates back to thousands of years. There are statues of other deities’ as well here, from Vishnu and Saman.
Auburn Silver is a travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
