Most travelers will include on their to-do list the climb up Lion Rock to see the ancient city of Sigiriya but I thought differently. The main reason why I chose to climb Pidurangala Rock instead of Sigiriya was the entrance fee of $30 USD. I don't usually cheap out on site-seeing but in this case there were two major factors I needed to consider:

1) It was the beginning of my two-month trip through Sri Lanka and India so I still had a long way to go.

2) Sri Lanka was more expensive than India where I would be spending most of my time.

Therefore, I took the wise decision of saving my rupees for the biggest part of my trip. Climbing Pidurangala Rock only cost about $1 – that was significantly less expensive than Sigiriya.

PIDURANGALA ROCK AND WHY I DIDN'T CLIMB SIGIRIYA

Before getting started, know that there are no shops or facilities on the way up nor near Pidurangala Rock. I suggest buying water and other necessities before reaching the site. You might be approached by men claiming to be guides. Though they can certainly add some value to your climb, a guide really isn't necessary as the path is pretty straightforward.

Pidurangala is a massive rock formation created by volcanic activity. No less important historically than Sigiriya but, yet, often overlooked by travelers. It has been occupied on and off for the past 2500 years by monks who lived in surrounding caves.

Nearing the end of the 5th century A.D., King Kasyapa moved the monks from Sigiriya offering them a much larger and newer temple and monastery. About halfway up the climb to Pidurangala Rock are small prayer cubicles, evidence of the presence of monks thousands of years ago. I particularly liked the reclining Buddha made of bricks, the first I had seen of its kind.

Unlike Sigiriya, which you climb by using smart stairs, Pidurangala is much more rudimentary. The first steps are made of stone which lead to an unmarked dirt path snaking through the forest. The path and rocky steps stop about halfway up (where the Buddha is) and then the climb becomes considerably more difficult. Sometimes you'll need assistance to hoist yourself up, around and in between huge boulders to get to the top of Pidurangala Rock. Make sure to have some good hiking shoes (unlike me).

Read also: Climbing Adam's Peak One Step at a Time

Once you make it to the top, you'll be rewarded with incredible views including Sigiriya in the near distance. I was surprised to see so much vegetation growing on the rock including cacti. I even spotted iguanas living this high up. Keep an eye out for the plate encrusted in the rock indicating the exact center of Sri Lanka.

The strenuous climb up was definitely worth it.

As you can see, Pidurangala Rock is not to be missed - especially if you're frugal like me.

Have you climbed Sigiriya or Pidurangala? I’d love to get some feedback in the comments below!