The story behind Pidurangala goes back to the reign of King Kasyapa of Sri Lanka whose reign was from 477 to 495 AD. Kasyapa built the Sigiriya Fortress after he seized the throne from his father King Datusena. Kasyapa feared the vengeance of Mogollana, the rightful heir to the crown, so he moved his capital from Anuradhapura to Sigiriya.
During his reign Kasyapa built this amazing fortress on the Sigiriya rock. He even developed a hydraulic system to provide water to the bathing pools on top of the rock. Apart from constructing a luxurious royal complex King Kasyapa acquired the adjacent rock and created a monastery for Buddhist monks. The monastery was built on the Pidurangala rock and it also functioned as the royal temple where the King and his court would visit when they wanted to pray.
Pidurangala was not only a temple for the people who lived in Sigiriya it was also an education institute for Buddhist monks. The local clergy would reside here to study Buddhist inscriptions and learn to read and write in Sanskrit and Pali. According to writings found on the walls of the caves, Pidurangala was the residence for around 500 monks. Pidurangala is spread across 13 acres of land and it included a Bo tree chamber, an Image House, a Dagoba and several meditation chambers. What now remains is a large cave where you will find a huge reclining Buddha statue that is 48 feet long.
The Pidurangala Rock climb is quite steep but there are steps that will lead you to the reclining Buddha statue. For a great view of the surrounding area you need to climb the top of the rock. It is one of the most breathtaking views one can enjoy in the country. There is a clear view of Sigiriya, the thick jungle that sits around it and the pastel blue sky peppered with white clouds.
Visitors to Sri Lanka should not miss out on the opportunity to explore Pidurangala. There are after all several resorts in Sri Lanka that you can stay in which are within easy reach of this site. Belonging to Theme Resorts & Spas, Theme resort & spa is one such option worth considering.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world. Google+