Located in close proximity to the wondrous Sigiriya rock fortress, Pindurangala was once a royal temple that sheltered some 500 monks which were under the patronage of medieval King Kashyapa, the ruler of Sigiriya. Surrounded by a brick rampart, all that remains of this once thriving monastery today are the meditation chambers constructed within a large cave and a 15 metre (48 feet) reclining Buddha statue constructed of bricks, clay and lime as well as one of Asia’s oldest stupas (a mound-like structure that holds Buddhist relics). The visitors can climb to the top of the rock that opens out into a fantastic view of the dry-zone forestry surrounding Sigiriya.