Pidurangala sunrise instead of buying Sigiriya tickets — same view for less effort, or will I regret skipping the rock?

They are different visits. Pidurangala is a steeper, rockier dawn hike with a classic view toward Sigiriya; Sigiriya itself is the fortress experience — gardens, frescoes, summit terraces — with its own ticket and crowds. Many travelers do Pidurangala at sunrise and Sigiriya later the same day or next morning if legs and tickets allow. If you only have one dawn and care about the postcard view of the rock, Pidurangala wins. If you care about walking the UNESCO site, do not skip Sigiriya entirely. I will not invent current ticket prices — check official boards the day before. Wear shoes with grip either way.