What to wear for Pidurangala

The temple dress code at Pidurangala applies because the climb starts in the grounds of the Pidurangala Raja Maha Viharaya, a working Buddhist monastery, and passes the reclining Buddha. Both men and women should cover their shoulders and knees in these places. Hats come off near shrines, and shoes come off where signs ask, usually at the image house and the dagoba.

In practice, that means a T-shirt or shirt with sleeves rather than a vest, and trousers, a skirt or a sarong below the knee. Temple staff are used to climbers and will usually point to the rules rather than refuse entry, but arriving properly dressed is the respectful choice.

If you prefer shorts for the climb, carry a sarong and tie it on at the temple. Remove it once you are clear of the reclining Buddha if the heat demands, and put it back on for the walk down through the temple grounds.

Clothes for the Pidurangala climb need to breathe and stretch. The forest is humid even at dawn, and you will sweat on the stone steps. Light cotton, linen or technical fabrics dry faster than heavy cotton. Avoid tight jeans, which restrict high steps on the scramble and become heavy when damp.

For the lower half, light hiking trousers, loose cotton trousers or a long, wide skirt all work well. A skirt should be loose enough to step up onto a boulder of thigh height. Leggings are practical and acceptable if worn with a longer top or a sarong at the temple.

Choose darker colours if you will sit on the summit rock, which is dusty and occasionally stained by bird droppings. White clothes rarely survive the morning unmarked.

Shoes that grip are the most important thing to wear for Pidurangala. Trainers or walking shoes with a rubber sole give good traction on stone steps and granite boulders. Lightweight hiking shoes are ideal but not essential, as the path is short.

Sports sandals with heel straps can work in dry weather, but they offer less protection from knocks on the scramble. Flip-flops are a poor choice: they slip on polished steps and come off on high moves. Smooth-soled fashion trainers lose grip on the rock, especially when dew or rain is about.

Remember that you will remove your shoes at parts of the temple, so slip-on shoes or loosely laced trainers save time.

Layers for Pidurangala depend on the time of day. At sunrise, the summit can feel cool and breezy, especially from December to February, after you have warmed up on the climb. A thin long-sleeved top or a light fleece is welcome while you wait for the sun.

At sunset, layers are rarely needed. The rock holds the day's heat, and the air is warm until well after dark. A light long-sleeved top can be useful against mosquitoes on the descent.

In the rainy months, roughly October to December, a light waterproof jacket is more useful than an umbrella, which is awkward on the scramble.

What to carry up Pidurangala should fit in a small daypack. You need at least a litre of water per person, more on afternoon climbs, plus a head torch for sunrise or the descent after sunset. Add small rupee notes for tickets, a phone or camera, a sarong if needed and insect repellent.

Keep food in your bag rather than in your hands. Monkeys on the rock and in the trees are quick to grab snacks. Sun cream and a hat are useful for the summit on any climb after about 8 am.

Leave large bags, tripods with long legs and anything valuable you do not need at your hotel. A shoulder bag swings awkwardly on the scramble.

Common clothing mistakes at Pidurangala are easy to avoid. The most frequent is arriving in shorts and a vest with nothing to cover up, which means an awkward moment at the temple. The second is flip-flops, which slip on the steps and make the scramble harder.

Others include heavy jeans on a humid morning, white clothes on a dusty summit and a big camera bag swinging on a long strap. Before sunrise climbs we brief Lankan Stays & Trails guests the evening before, so that nobody arrives at the temple at 5 am in the wrong clothes.