Sigiriya vs Pidurangala: which rock is best?
If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka then it’s likely that Sigiriya is on your itinerary. But nearby there’s a lesser-visited rock called Pidurangala that you can see from Sigiriya. We had read that this was actually a better spot to visit as you benefit from the view of Sigiriya which is larger and visually more impressive. So we weren’t sure why it was so much less touristy... we climbed both rocks on the same day and this is what we learned.
Sigiriya
Sigiriya is a huge fortress also known as Lion rock. There’s actually not much information about the history of the site when you’re there so if you have the time it may be worth hiring a guide. But we just walked ourselves around and still enjoyed it, despite not knowing exactly what we were looking at!
How long do you need at Sigiriya?
This is a major tourist destination with both foreigners and locals. And it had the price tag to match at 36 USD per person. On the day we visited it was absolutely rammed with school children. Everywhere you looked there were crisp white uniforms and blue ribbons in long black plaits. And apparently this is often the case... But even if it’s not busy with school trips it will still be busy with someone. So be prepared for how long it takes to get up and down the rock just because of the queues.
We probably spent more time getting up the rock than we did at the top. But once you’re up the views are breathtaking and there’s enough space that the crowds disperse easily. You can see across miles of mountains and national parks and it does make you feel like you’re on top of the world. In total we spent about 1.5 hours here.
Is it easy to climb Sigiriya?
You enter Sigiriya through a garden that was originally reserved for royals. It’s a calm and peaceful start to a fairly intense climb. There are stairs the whole way up and down Sigiriya. But they are crowded and the sun is hot. So hot that in places it was hard to hold onto the metal railing.
The stairs are metal and attached to the side of the rock. I’m not great with heights so this, along with the fact that you spent about 20 minutes slowly crawling up them while surrounded by people on all sides made this a slightly stressful experience for me. But definitely not stressful enough that I wouldn’t recommend going.
Despite the height, the stairs do make it fairly easy and not too strenuous to reach the 180cm peak.
Pidurangala
2 km away is this smaller rock that’s also the site of an ancient city. It costs 2000 LKR per person which is much more affordable than Sigiriya.
You start by walking through the grounds of a shrine and temple, so there are scarves to take to cover your knees and shoulders. You can take these off before the main walk starts.
Like Sigiriya the walk up Pidurangala is mostly steps. But these are stones or carved rocks rather than drilled in metal. They’re also in the shaded woodland. So I couldn’t understand why it was so quiet here. The first 15-20 min of the walk is tranquil and lovely. There’s a huge Buddha monument and some ancient carvings to admire half way up. Then the path ends…
Is it easy to climb Pidurangala?
If a couple of people hadn’t been there at the point where the track becomes forest on one side and rocks on the other it wouldn’t have been that obvious that the rocks were the route we needed to take.
After scaling one large rock (which you eventually see has an arrow on it) you then have to scramble over a set of boulders. Then, there’s more rocks to climb up onto one large rock. It’s not that hard and there are plenty of hand- and footholds. But if you’re not used to this kind of thing in hikes, if you have any mobility issues, or if you’re not in the right footwear (there were people hiking this in flip flops) then this might not work out for you.
The view from the top is stunning. It’s true that this is a better lookout than Sigiriya. But it’s the climb at the end that stops many people from being able to enjoy it. Don’t let this put you off! Just let it make you aware of what’s to come, as we weren’t! Luckily we were dressed appropriately and the climb just added to the adventure.
How long do I need at Pidurangala?
To get further up the rock you have to scale a flat-ish slab… but all of this is worth it if you have the ability. The whole trip took us about 1 hour.
The pros and cons of Sigiriya and Pidurangala
Sigiriya is more accessible than Pidurangala.
Sigiriya is more famous and considered a must-visit compared to Pidurangala.
Sigiriya arguably has a more interesting history than Pidurangala.
Sigiriya has a larger space to explore than Pidurangala, including picturesque gardens.
Pidurangala has a better view as you can see across to Sigiriya.
Pidurangala is quieter and more peaceful than Sigiriya.
If you’re okay with climbing, I actually think Pidurangala is a better walk than Sigiriya as I hated the busy metal steps there.
Pidurangala feels like you’re exploring something special and off-the-beaten track compared to Sigiriya.
Pidurangala is much cheaper to enter than Sigiriya.
Which should I visit, Sigiriya or Pidurangala?
Honestly, you should visit both if you can. If I had to choose, I preferred Pidurangala. Sigiriya is much more touristy and more expensive. Pidurangala is harder or even impossible if you’re not mobile or fairly active, but I preferred the walk, the climb was fun, it was quiet and very untouristy, and the view was incredible.
If none of the prohibitive factors for either Sigiriya or Pidurangala stand in your way, do both.
Find out more about the hikes we did in Sri Lanka here.