Pettigala Kandy - hike & visit to the Buddhist temple Bambaragala | Sri Lanka
Pettigala Kandy - hike & visit to the Buddhist temple Bambaragala | Sri Lanka
Pettigala Kandy is a hiking area in the district of Pethiyagala Tildeniya near Kandy, Sir Lanka. Read this complete guide for the Pettigala hike for epic views in the central highlands of Sri Lanka and a stop at the incredible Buddhist temple Bambaragala.
After driving down the idyllic surf coast of the west coast of Sri Lanka, it was time to break down into the highlands. If you read some of my other travel guides and adventure blogs, you already know that I prefer to conquer the hills and paths rather than hang on the beach. So, as soon as we arrived in Kandy, we started looking for hiking opportunities.
The Pettigala hike near Kandy was an urgently needed refreshment for me, the prospects that really exceeded my expectations! In this short guide, I explain to you how to get to the starting point of the Pettigala hiking trail, as well as some information and photos of the Buddhist Bambaragala temple at the beginning of the hike.
How do you get from Kandy to Pettigala?
The Pettigala hike is about 20 kilometers from Kandy in the district of Pethiyagala Tildeniya. However, since most people tend to stay in Kandy, I will give a directional description from here.
The most convenient way to get from Kandy to Pettigala hike is the ride on the public bus. I suggest going to the central bus stop Kandy Market on foot, where dozens of buses leave on various routes. Ask for a bus about "Digana". A bus should go every 30 minutes.
This bus line drives east along the Mahaweli Ganga and holds on the way to Wegala in several small villages. A total of a 45-minute bus ride from Kandy to Digana.
After your arrival you can pay a rickshaw driver who brings you the remaining 5 kilometers to the Buddhist Temple Bambaragala Purana Rajamaha Viharaya (start of the Pettigala hike). Instead of taking a rickshaw, we decided to go on foot from Digana, which only took about 45 minutes. We followed the length of the Victoria Gold Club Road before we reached the stone levels of the Buddhist temple.
TIP: Bring a long -sleeved shirt or shoulder cover and long trousers to show respect when you walk through the monastery.
Finding a motorcycle was difficult in Kandy. In fact, to our surprise it seemed to be the biggest challenge in Sri Lanka! Since we had just returned our Tuk Tuk, we walked around for hours and asked in vain for rental cars. Nevertheless, the bus ride turned out to be very simple and convenient.
Start of the hike: Visit the Buddhist Temple Bambaragala
The path to the Pettigala rock begins with a walk through the Buddhist temple Bambaragala. While I came for the hike and the view, I left him with a newly discovered astonishment and appreciation for the beauty and history of the Bambaragala temple.
Right on our arrival, we were greeted by local monks who told us about its long history, which goes back over 2000 years! We spent some time to explore the paved courtyards and to admire the incredible cave statues and old paintings before we went up the hill up to Pettigala Kandy.
alt = “Bambaragala temple near Kandy, Sri Lanka”>
Alt = “Old paintings of the cave temple in the Bambaragala temple near Kandy, Sri Lanka”>
Alt = “Buddhist statue on the Bambaragala temple near Kandy, Sri Lanka”>
Pettigala Hike: Independent hiking guide
Hiking duration: ~ 1 hour
Height (200 m+ altitude difference)
Medium
The Pettigala hike begins at the top of the stone steps of the Bambaragala monastery. Although not immediately obvious, there is a leaked path that leads directly behind the top level of the steps into the forest. If you have difficulty finding the way, you can ask the monks to show you the way.
The hike to the summit of the Pettigala outside point is sometimes a bit difficult to navigate, especially since sections can have grown somewhat. However, if you follow the generally leaked path that winds up to a dense forest slope, you shouldn't have a problem.
The path consists of rooted undergrowth and is sometimes quite steep. After about 200 meters of altitude, they come to a grass -covered clearing, on which they see several large boulders. These offer great viewpoints about the surrounding highlands and the Victoria Lake.
The best view of Pettigala Kandy is only a few hundred meters right of the first clearing of a flat rocky lead. You can easily navigate to this viewpoint by following the worn sections in the grass and targeting these GPS coordinates: 7 ° 17’10.2 ″ N 80 ° 45’36.0 ″ E.
View of Pettigala Kandy
The view of Pettigala Kandy extends over the central highlands of Sri Lankas. From the viewpoint, hikers are rewarded with panoramas via the catchment area of the Victoria Dam and the surrounding mountains. If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend you to go to Pettigala for sunrise, because I am sure that the view would be even more spectacular!
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Alt = “Pettigala Kandy Viewpoint Hike, Victoria Dam”>
After enjoying the view and climbing down from the Pettigala Rock, we decided to try our luck and go back to Kandy by hitchhiker. That was a little experiment for us because we had never hitchhiked in Sri Lanka. To our surprise, however, we were kindly offered to us by the first truck that drove past us on the Gold Club Road!
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Alt = “Tramps in Kandy Sri Lanka”>
Accommodation leader for Kandy
My Kandy accommodation: 2in1 Kandy (~ 6 $) Okay, this is not so close to the market station, but I can still recommend it without any problems. The name 2in1 comes from the fact that the owners run a hostel, but actually it is a host family. It offers one of the best vibes for backpackers in Kandy, has an incredible view of the mountains and only costs about $ 6 per night!
Middle class: Aarunya Nature Resort and Spa (~ $ 23) The Aarunya Nature Resort offers the best price-performance ratio in Kandy. Visitors receive free bicycles, access to a swimming pool, a fitness center and a private villa!
High-end: The Golden Crown (~ 90 $) Infinity pool with a view of the beautiful highland forest? If I had a higher budget, this would be the right choice. The Golden Crown is one of the highest hotels in Kandy. But don't take my word for it - check the reviews.
Further adventure ideas & travel guide in Sri Lanka
Did the short instructions for Pettigala hike near Kandy like you in Sri Lanka? If you are looking for further adventures and travel savings for Sri Lanka, don't miss my other travel guides and blogs below!
If you have news or questions, please help other travelers by leaving a comment below!
My camera and photo equipment
- Mirrorless camera: Canon R5
- drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- 360-degree action camera: Insta360 One X2
- landscape lens: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8l
- all-round lens: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
- telephoto lens: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4.5–7.1 l
- Long action rod: Insta360 Invisible Pole (Bullettime)
- landscape lens filter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
- camera backpack: F-stop Tilopa
- Favorite photo accessories: Peak Design Capture Clip
A list of my recommended photo equipment (including what I use and why) can be found in my guide for camera equipment for the trip.
If you want to use one of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my print store or contact me directly for customs deductions from pictures on WE Seek Travel.
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