The Pidurangala Monastery, located as the base of a hillock, is just a short detour from your explorations of the Rock Fortress in Sigiriya. The monastery, which has been in existence since the time of King Kashyapa who reigned the Island from Sigiriya, has been a functioning one. The mere fact that there was such a temple adds a whole new aspect to the kingdom which existed in the area during the 5th century AD.
There has been a close connection between the monarchy and this sacred site and the temple’s head monk also functioned as the head monk of the palace and contributed towards all the religious services conducted by King Kashyapa.
Also according to the history of the monastery, when King Kashyapa discovered Sigiriya, the temple at the base of Pidurangala existed as a place used by Buddhist monks to meditate. It was the king who eventually built the temple which later became a famous site during his reign. During this time the monastery was spread over nearly 14 acres of land and was home to over 500 Buddhist monks who sought sanctuary here to meditate. Originally, the complex consisted of the five major structures of a Buddhist temple namely the Image House, Chapter House, Bo Tree, Sangaramaya and the Chaitya.
The most interesting sight here is the statue of the reclining Buddha. This is located at the top of the Pidurangala Hill inside a rock cave. In its original size it is 48 feet long and it is also one of the largest Buddhist statues in Asia. Another interesting fact about this site is that the well known Monk Mahanama, who authored the book which gives an account of the history of Sri Lanka, the Mahavamsa, had also resided here. There are also various paintings and interesting carvings that depict the history of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka.
Visitors to the Rock Fortress and Pidurangala are offered a range of lodging options and a hotel in Sigiriya offers the perfect base from which to easily access these interesting and amazing sights. Hotels Sigiriya has on offer feature modern amenities and facilities and for those seeking an exceptional experience of Sigiriya Rock Fortress the perfect option is Hotel Sigiriya.
