Among the many amazing attractions of Sigiriya, one that is often overshadowed by the Sigiriya Rock is the Pidurangala Rock.
About
Pidurangala was a prominent Buddhist Monastery during the reign of King Kasyapa, but its history stretches back beyond the 1st and 2nd century B.C. Pidurangala is located in Sigiriya in the vicinity of the famous Sigiriya Rock Fortress built by the infamous King Kasyapa.
History
It is believed by some that the Sigiriya Rock too was a Buddhist monastery before Kashyapa’s time and he asked the monks to move out after he built his fortress.
Structure
The Pidurangala Raja Maha Viharaya is spread out over thirteen acres of land, which provided sanctuary to a band of 500 meditating bhikkhus. The monastery was complete with the five ritual buildings, the Chapter House, the Sabha or Sangharamaya, the Bodhiya, the Chaitya, and the Image House.
Location
Don’t worry about places to stay, for there are many luxury hotels in Sigiriya the likes of Water Garden Sigiriya, which is located about a kilometre away from the Pidurangala Rock.
Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+
