Sigiriya is pricey for foreigners is climbing Pidurangala instead worth it

They offer different things. Sigiriya (the foreigner ticket is around 30 USD) is the actual UNESCO site: you climb the famous Lion Rock itself, see the frescoes, the mirror wall and the water gardens on top. Pidurangala is a fraction of the price and is the rock OPPOSITE Sigiriya, so from its summit you get the iconic photo OF Sigiriya rock at sunrise, which you cannot get from Sigiriya itself. Ideal combo: climb Pidurangala for sunrise (cheaper, fewer crowds, the postcard view), then do Sigiriya proper later in the morning for the history. If budget is tight, Pidurangala alone is a great view.