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(Sri Pada) Adam’s Peak
ELEVATION 2243M
Located in a beautiful area of the southern
Hill Country, this lofty peak has sparked the
imagination for centuries and been a focus for
pilgrimage for more than a thousand years.
Variously known as Adam’s Peak (the place
where Adam first set foot on earth after being
cast out of heaven), Sri Pada (Sacred Foot-
print, left by the Buddha as he headed to-
wards paradise), or perhaps most poetically as
Samanalakande (Butterfly Mountain; where
butterflies go to die). Some believe the huge
‘footprint’ crowning the peak to be that of St
Thomas, the early apostle of India, or even of
Lord Shiva.
The pilgrimage season begins on poya day
in December and runs until Vesak festival
in May; January and February are busiest.
At other times the temple on the summit is
unused, and between May and October the
peak is often obscured by clouds. During the
season pilgrims and tourists alike make the
climb up the countless steps to the top.
Walkers leave from the small settlement of
Dalhousie (del-house), 33km by road south-
west of Hatton, which is situated on the
Colombo–Kandy–Nuwara Eliya railway and
road. In season, the route is illuminated by
a sparkling ribbon of lights which are visible
from miles around and from afar look like
a trail of stars leading into the heavens. It’s
a view that cannot but fail to send a quiver
of anticipation through most people. Out of
season you will need a torch. Many pilgrims
prefer to make the longer, more tiring – but
equally well-marked and lit – seven-hour
climb from Ratnapura via the Carney Estate
because of the greater merit thus gained.
As dawn illuminates the holy mountain,
the diffuse morning light uncovers the Hill
Country rising in the east and the land slop-
ing to the coast to the west. Colombo, 65km
away, is easily visible on a clear day.
Adam’s Peak saves its most breathtaking
moment for just after dawn. The sun casts
a perfect shadow of the peak onto the misty
clouds down towards the coast. As the sun
rises higher this eerie triangular shadow races
back towards the peak, eventually disappear-
ing into its base.
2 Activities
The Climb
You can start the 7km climb from Dalhousie
soon after dark – bring a good sleeping bag to
keep you warm overnight at the top – or you
can wait until about 2am to start. The climb
is up steps most of the way (about 5200 of
them), and on a quiet day you’ll reach the top
in 2½ to four hours. A 2.30am start will easily
get you there before dawn, which is around
6.30am. Start on a poya day or a weekend,
though, and the throng of pilgrims will add
hours and hours to your climb.
From the car park, the slope is gradual for
the first half-hour, passing under an entrance
arch and then by the Japan–Sri Lanka Friend-
ship Dagoba. The pathway gets steeper until
it becomes a continuous flight of stairs. There
are teahouses all the way to the top; in season
they open through the night. A few are open
out of season. The authorities have banned
litter, alcohol, cigarettes, meat and recorded
music, so the atmosphere remains reverential.The Summit
The summit can be cold, so it’s not worth
getting there too long before dawn and then
sitting around shivering. Definitely bring
warm clothes, including something extra for
the top, and pack plenty of water. If you’re in
Dalhousie in the pilgrimage season, stalls at
the market sell warm jackets and headgear
(although on busy nights the crush of human-
ity can be so intense that you’ll be kept warm
merely through close proximity to so many
other people). Otherwise stop at the market
at Nuwara Eliya for outdoor gear at bargain
prices. Some pilgrims wait for the priests to
make a morning offering before they descend,
but the sun and heat rise quickly, so it pays
not to linger.The Descent
Many people find the hardest part is coming
down. The endless steps can shake the strong-
est knees, and if your shoes don’t fit well, toe-
jam also kicks in. Walking poles or even just a
sturdy stick will make the descent much less
jarring on your legs. Take a hat, as the morn-
ing sun intensifies quickly. Remember to
stretch your legs when you finish, otherwise
you’ll be walking strangely for a few days.
Between June and November, when the
pathway isn’t illuminated and there aren’t
many people around, travellers are urged to
do the hike at least in pairs. Expect to pay
around Rs 1000 for a guide.4 leeping & EatingS
Dalhousie is the best place to start the
climb and it also has the area’s best budget
accommodation.