Upon our arrival in Sigiriya, the very first activity on my list was none other than the famous sunrise hike to Pidurangala Rock. This was one of the highlights of our 8-day Sri Lanka itinerary and the perfect introduction to the country's Cultural Triangle.
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If you're also planning to do this hike in search of that iconic view, here's a short hiking guide covering everything you need to know. This guide includes entrance fees, logistics, trail sections, difficulty level, and a few tips based on our experience.
Pidurangala Rock Hike Overview:
- Route: Out-and-back (same trail for ascent and descent)
- Distance: 2.31 km
- Elevation Gain: ยฑ160
- Highest Point: 350 MASL
- Difficulty: Easy (1/5)
- Time Taken: 1.5-2 hours, including time spent for sunrise, photos, and enjoying the view
- Best Season: Year-round, but avoid hiking during midday due to the heat
- Highlights: Sigiriya Rock viewpoint, sunrise views, panoramic scenery of the surrounding jungle, lakes, villages, and the Sigiriya area
How to Get There and How to Get Out:
Located just 2.5 kilometers north of the well-known Sigiriya Rock, sits the not-so-quiet (thanks to tourism) Pidurangala Rock.
Most tuk-tuk drivers, locals, and tourists regularly travel to the area. So, arranging transportation is fairly easy. You can book a guided tour with private transportation, join a group tour by bus, or even arrange a jeep transfer. However, hiring a tuk-tuk is by far the easiest and most cost-effective way to reach the trailhead.
You can also arrange a tuk-tuk through PickMe. However, based on our experience, finding an available driver before sunrise can be a bit challenging. We encountered this issue when we hiked Sigiriya Rock, so I highly suggest arranging it in advance.
While it is technically possible to walk from Sigiriya, locals generally do not recommend doing so. Especially if you're planning a sunrise hike. The area is surrounded by dense forest, and wild animals such as elephants are known to roam freely.
At the same time, this is an out-and-back trail, meaning the hike starts and ends at the same entry point and parking area, making it easy to come back to your arranged transportation after the hike.
Hike Starting Point:
After paying the entrance fee at the ticket booth, you'll immediately spot the first set of stairs, which is the official starting point.
The Buddhist temple is right after the first set of stairs. Most people recommend dressing modestly or carrying a cover-up while passing through it, especially if you are entering it. Once you leave the temple area, you can remove the extra layer if you wish.
Pidurangala Rock Hiking Trail Section & Highlights:
Even though the trail is short, I will still divide it into 4 very obvious sections.
The Stairs
After passing through the Buddhist temple, the trail continues with stairs after stairs after stairs.
There is one section where you have to walk through a huge boulder. Don't worry, there's nothing tight or claustrophobic about it. You simply walk through the opening and continue on your way.
After that, it's back to climbing the remaining stairs until you reach the next highlight of the hike.
The Sleeping Buddha (Reclining Buddha)
After the final set of stairs, you'll come across a natural cave formed by the rock ledge above.
Underneath this rock ledge lies the impressive 46-foot reclining Buddha, more commonly referred to as the Sleeping Buddha.
Whether you're visiting for religious reasons or simply passing through on your way to the summit, it's definitely worth taking a moment to appreciate. After all, it's not every day you encounter a giant Buddha statue in the middle of a hiking trail.
The Boulder Scramble to the Summit
Right after the Sleeping Buddha is where the scrambling begins. Fret not โ it's very short and only involves about two to three layers of boulders.
The first obstacle requires you to squeeze between two large rocks. It is quite a big step up, but perfectly manageable for most people. If needed, you can use your knees for extra support while climbing through.
The second section involves a few more rocks, but these can easily be used as stepping stones. Photos may make it look more intimidating than it actually is. Fortunately, the rocks are stable and don't move around, unlike some of the loose rocks I've encountered while hiking in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.
At the top of this section awaits a rocky ledge that doubles as the first viewpoint overlooking Sigiriya Lion Rock.
This is also where the final bit of scrambling begins. At first glance, it looks a little tricky because of the overhanging rock, which creates a rather small opening to climb through.
As soon as you pull yourself over, or roll yourself over as my boyfriend did, your reward is an incredible front-row view of Sigiriya Lion Rock.
Compared to the summit itself, this was actually my favorite viewpoint because of its completely unobstructed view.
The Summit
From the first viewpoint, simply walk behind the rocks and climb the gentle incline ahead. A few moments later, you'll arrive at the summit of Pidurangala Rock.
Unlike the relatively flat summit of Sigiriya Lion Rock, the summit here is rugged and uneven, with plenty of exposed rock surfaces to explore.
One thing that surprised me was how small Pidurangala Rock looked when viewed from Sigiriya Lion Rock. From a distance, it resembles a small hill rather than a giant rock formation.
While exploring the summit, I wasn't only impressed by the panoramic views. I was also surprised to find several cacti growing up there. Out of everything I expected to see on top of a rock in Sri Lanka, cacti were definitely not on the list.
And here's the actual view of Sigiriya Lion Rock from the summit.
Because of the large boulder and lonely tree sitting in front of the viewpoint, the summit view is slightly more obstructed compared to the lower ledge viewpoint mentioned earlier. This is why I personally preferred the first viewpoint.
Of course, a zoom lens can solve that problem pretty quickly, which rewarded us with this beautiful portrait shot of Sigiriya Lion Rock.
Amazing, isn't it?
And that's it for the hiking sections of Pidurangala Rock. Once you're done enjoying the views, simply retrace your steps along the same trail back to the parking area.
Hike Arrangement & Cost(s):
Since we completed the hike independently, we didn't hire a guide and only paid the following expenses:
- Entry Fee: LKR 1,000 per person
- Tuk-Tuk Fare: LKR 2,000 (round trip, arranged directly through our hotel)
We stayed at Lion Gate Hotel Sigiriya, which is located slightly outside the main Sigiriya town. Considering the extra distance and the fact that the driver waited for us while we completed the hike, I thought LKR 2,000 for the round trip was already a pretty good deal.
If you'd rather join a tour or hire a guide, you can also check the options below.
Personal Thoughts on Pidurangala Rock Hike:
As I always say, we all have different adventure appetite or what I call #hikeppetite to begin with. So, a good trail for me might not be a good trail for you, and vice versa. And thatโs completely okay โ we donโt need to agree with anyone or everyone all the time.
If you're wondering whether Pidurangala Rock is worth it, my short answer is yes. Anyhow, hereโs what I think about our hike in Pidurangala Rock:
Pros:
- The trail is well-established and easy to follow.
- Short and easy, making it suitable for hikers of different fitness levels.
- Amazing panoramic views of Sigiriya Rock, the surrounding jungle, lakes, villages, and the greater Sigiriya area.
- Compared to the steep entrance fee of Sigiriya Rock (USD 35 for foreigners), the entry fee at Pidurangala Rock is considerably cheaper at around USD 3.
Cons:
- The trail and overall activity are too short for my personal #hikeppetite to consider it a full hike. However, it is perfect as a sunrise or sunset activity, which gives you more time for other activities!
- A bit of scrambling is required near the summit. If you're hiking solo and aren't confident with this type of terrain, having a hiking buddy is recommended. If you're visiting as a family, please assist children accordingly.
While the trail was much shorter than my usual hiking appetite, I genuinely enjoyed our sunrise hike to Pidurangala Rock.
It was the very first activity we did upon arriving in Sri Lanka, and the front-row view of Sigiriya Rock was absolutely worth waking up at 4 AM for.
The best part? The hike was early enough that we still had the entire day ahead of us for other adventures. Our next activity was an elephant safari in Hurulu Eco Park. How did that go? You'll have to find out in my next blog post!
Whatever decision you make, always remember to prepare beforehand, stay safe, and last but not least, enjoy the outdoors! #happyhiking!
With lots of love,
PINAYHAKAWATI ๐
AND AS A GENTLE OUTDOOR ETHICS REMINDER:
LEAVE NO TRACE!
