Pidurangala Rock – Another Trek In Sigiriya
And yeah, let’s start with the second part of my visit to Sigiriya in Sri Lanka. As I started to walk towards the last steps to the top of Sigiriya Rock, I saw a glance of another rock just next to it. After looking at it carefully, I was able to see many people who had already climbed on it. And I made up my next plan to head over to the Pidurangala Rock.
Let’s Go to Pidurangala Rock
After walking all around the top of Sigiriya Rock, I immediately headed towards the Pidurangala Rock. Which was about 2-3 km so instead of walking till there, as I was already tired I took a Tuk Tuk. Reached the ticket counter, where you need to pay 500 LKR/Sri Lankan Rupee to be able to start your trek towards the top.
After completing the first set of stairs, I met a monk and asked if that was the Pidurangala Rock Temple. An addition to your trek to the top, which has been carved from a rock and made into a temple. With the Sleeping Buddha Statue inside, there are paintings all over the walls. With one at the entry of a dragon and people depicting a story.
Starting the Trek
After taking my blessings, I took the broken, unorganized stairs towards the Pidurangala Rock. It was quite confusing with many boulders out there, through which you need to find your way into the forest. And there was hardly any signs on which path to take, but after walking a bit. I started to see people who were returning from the top, and that was the call that we were on the right path. But the time, when I was alone it felt as if I should have taken the other route to the top. After seeing the statue of Buddha made out of bricks which wasn’t fully completed. I asked a guy returning on how far it was, which he said that just 2 more boulders to go.
I was happy that we made it to the top of the second Rock in a day. I was fully tired but wasn’t stopping as I wanted to reach the top and then relax there. After jumping from the last boulder I had to like crawl on this giant piece of cemented rock, which was scary as there was nothing holding it. And it was just lying there which everyone crawling on it to reach the top. I thought what if the plank isn’t there when you I return, as that would have been quite a jump from the top to reach the other rock on ground. People prefer the sunrise hike to Pidurangala and then end it with hiking to the top of Sigiriya Rock. And if you are there for a day, you should do it too, as you won’t find any lights while you are returning from the top of the Pidurangala Rock in the evening.
And guys, just cannot explain the wondeful view from the top of the Pidurangala Rock. Just see the images from the top to see how beautiful it was. Sigiriya Rock was beautiful for its history but Pidurangala definitely has the natural beauty to it. After spending some time on the top, I thought to return as the afternoon was about to end. And I was starving for lunch and then head towards our last spot in Sigiriya – The Dambulla Cave Temple. And the next article will be up by tomorrow, as I thought to share about the next spot I visited in the next one.