Pidurangala 2

     The man made steps disappear and the mor natural footholds take form. You start climbing parallel to the rock and the grooves in theboulders become your guide. The sound of the forest is calming but it reminds you that you are in the domain of the wild. One look up and a family of Toque Macaques scurry along disturbed by our presence. The steps end at a landing, wich consists of alarge natural cave that faces the east, housing a series of rooms, which may have belonged to the temple complex and served as meditation caves. The face of the rock, which makes the roofs of the caves, has remnants of paintings. Pidurangala is however renowned for the 49 1/2 ft reclining Buddha statue, which is said to be the longest Buddha statue to be built in brick, clay and limestone that has been placed within this csve. Prof: Senarath Paranavithana and H.C.P. Bell through thir research have confirmed that this statue belongs to the Sigiriya period.

Pidurangala 1

At tha time that King Kashypa selected Sigiriya as his capital the rock fortress was amonastery As such prior to building his palace and securing the fortress the King first developed the adjoining cave complex at pidurangala that is situated to the North of Sigiriya withall the required facilities. Upon completion the King gifted the cave monastery to the Bikkhu. The natural caves and flat terrain spread across acres ad provided all the required elements of a monastery complex...