Sigiriya vs Pidurangala Rock - should I climb both and which gives the better experience?

I guide in this area regularly and this is one of my most common questions. The honest answer: do both, but they are very different experiences.

Sigiriya (Lion Rock):
- LKR 4,500 for foreigners (one of the most expensive UNESCO sites in Asia relative to the experience, but still worth it)
- What you get: 5th century royal fortress and palace complex. The climb passes the famous frescoes (painted women, extraordinary preservation), the mirror wall, and the lion's paw entrance. The summit has the ruins of the palace with 360-degree views. The water gardens at the base are remarkable engineering.
- Time: allow 2.5-3 hours minimum. Go before 7am — it gets very crowded and very hot by mid-morning.
- Experience: genuinely historic and extraordinary. The frescoes alone justify the entry price.

Pidurangala:
- Entry: around LKR 500 (a Buddhist temple donation) — essentially free
- What you get: a rocky scramble (some boulder climbing near the summit) to the top of a neighbouring rocky outcrop
- Time: 45-60 minutes up, 30 minutes down
- The view: from Pidurangala's summit you look directly at Sigiriya rising out of the flat jungle below. It is the iconic "photo of Sigiriya" that everyone uses — from Sigiriya itself, you cannot get that view. Pidurangala is the correct answer to "where do I photograph Sigiriya."
- Experience: more adventurous, requires some confidence clambering over large boulders at the top, but manageable for most people

When to do each: Sigiriya → before 7am on arrival day. Pidurangala → late afternoon or the next morning at sunset/sunrise (the golden light on Sigiriya from Pidurangala at sunrise is outstanding). Do Pidurangala the evening before or the morning after Sigiriya and you have both experiences covered.