One of the few places where followers of the world’s four major religions congregate is the mountain of Sri Pada. The mountain rises to a height of 7,360 feet and is located in the Rathnapura district.
Despite being only the second-highest mountain, this one rises majestically on its own, has a conical shape, and provides an unhindered view of both land and sea. The conical peak is claimed to have served as a marker for ancient seafaring Arabs who came to Sri Lanka to trade in gems, spices, ivory, and other goods. When they viewed the mountain miles from shore, they reportedly prayed to God to have brought them safely to the island.
Buddha made three trips to Sri Lanka, according to the legendary history book Mahawamsa. His most recent journey took him from Digavaphi to Sri Pada, starting in Kelaniya. According to legend, the Deity Saman invited Buddha to leave his footprint on a rock at the summit of a mountain (Saman Deviyo).
In order to expel the Yakka Tribe, Deity Saman traveled to Mahiyangana, where he is said to have first encountered the Buddha. After hearing the Buddha, Saman became a stream-entrant (sotapanna). When Deity Saman asked for a worship object, Buddha granted him a few hairs, which he used to build a dagaba in Mahiyangana.
The mountain’s summit is a small plateau, and according to measurements taken in 1816 by Lieutenant Malcolm, the first European to climb the peak, it measures 74 feet long and 24 feet wide, with a total area of 1,776 square feet. Broad steps lead up to a walled enclosure at the peak’s summit, where a tower-like structure is built over a rock.
Sri Pada Season
Adam’s Peak is typically climbed at night so that you can reach the summit before dawn, which provides the best chances of witnessing the breathtaking vistas without clouds and the chance to catch a glimpse of the peak’s mysterious shadow.
The pilgrimage season, which begins on the day of the Duruthu poya in December or January and lasts until the Vesak poya in May, is when the majority of visitors climb the peak. The mountain’s weather is at its best during the season, and the likelihood of a clear sunrise at the summit is highest. The stairs leading up the hillside are also illuminated, and a number of vendors and teahouses stay open all night to serve the hordes of exhausted pilgrims slogging their way up. Although less appealing, it is entirely possible to climb the mountain out of season. However, since no teashops are open and the lights are turned off, you’ll need to bring a good torch. You can climb the mountain during the day, though most people do so at night. However, the summit is frequently covered in clouds, so even on a clear day, you won’t be able to see the mountain’s famous shadow or, if you visit during the pilgrimage season, take in the sight of the nighttime illuminations and all-night teashops as you ascend.
Finally, if it’s pouring rain when you get in Dalhousie, don’t lose hope. Even though the trail will be muddy and there will be plenty of leeches around, the daily downpour that regularly pours down on the hamlet during the off-season frequently stops at midnight and gives you a clear shot at the summit.
Route
The ascent from Dalhousie is the simplest and is described here. A different, significantly longer route (15 km; roughly 7 hours) ascends from the mountain’s Ratnapura side through Palabaddale. If you could handle the practicalities, walking up from Dalhousie and then down to Palabaddale would be an interesting walk. Another option is to join a tour out of Nuwara Eliya and ascend the summit from Dalhousie, but this will keep you up all night.
Although guides are available all across Dalhousie (for Rs. 1500-2000), you’ll only truly need one if you’re a solo female or want to ascend the peak at night when it may be really cold and desolate. Borrowing a dog is a (free) alternative; all the neighborhood mutts are familiar with the route and will be eager to go with you. “Bonzo” at the Green House in Dalhousie is especially sociable.
Regardless of your level of fitness, the 7-kilometer ascent to Adam’s Peak, which has about 5500 steps, is strenuous and can leave even experienced hill walkers in a state of trembling ruin. Spend around four hours ascending the mountain, taking breaks for tea along the way. There are lots of tea shops to stop at en route if it looks like you’re going to arrive early (there’s not much use in sitting around at the summit in the dark for much longer than you have to); dawn is at approximately 6 or 6.30am, so a 2am start should get you to the top in time).
The Climb
The path leading up the mountain begins at the far end of Dalhousie village. It passes a sizable standing Buddha, over a bridge, and makes a loop around the enormous pilgrim’s rest hostel (if you arrive at the Green House guesthouse you’ve gone astray). The path softly meanders through tea estates, through Buddha shrines, and through the large makara torana arch that delineates the sacred area for the first thirty minutes. The enormous Peace Pagoda, constructed with Japanese assistance in the 1970s, is a short distance away. The trail continues to gently ascend from here. The opposing rock face has numerous waterfalls that cascade spectacularly when it’s raining.
Beyond the Peace Pagoda, the climb-and the steps-begin in earnest; they aren’t too difficult at first, but as you move forward, they get shorter and steeper. You are approximately 1500 steps away from the summit by the time you reach the physically taxing, nearly vertical portion with handrails, however by that point it is a true fight. Although the path is quite contained and protected, this shouldn’t be an issue unless you have unusually bad vertigo (unlike at Sigiriya, for example), and it goes without saying that at night you won’t be able to see much on the way up. The sight of colorful alpine birdlife, including the Sri Lanka white-eye and Eurasian blackbird, could provide some much-needed diversion during the arduous climb or descent. The top slopes of the mountain are covered in dense and relatively untouched clumps of cloud forest.
How challenging is ascending Adams Peak?
It’s not particularly simple, but the majority of people with ordinary fitness should be able to make it to the summit. There are more than 5,000 steps to up and descend, and for some people, descending steps hurt their knees. The height of Adams Peak.
Around 2,243 m (7,359 ft) is how high Adam’s peak is, which is noteworthy.
Adams Peak steps are also taller and more uneven than typical office building steps.
How is the weather at Adam’s Peak?
The secret to a successful adams peak trek, like with most trekking, is layers. The majority of people begin at 2AM, when it’s frequently fairly cold (locals will wear jackets and caps), and by midday it’s really hot. But the temperature varies greatly depending on where you are, how high up the mountain you are, what time of day it is, and what time of year you are climbing.
The Crest
A cluster of structures encircles the summit. Although history holds that this is simply an impression of the original footprint, which is said to be underground, the footprint itself is shockingly unimpressive: a small, uneven depression protected by a modest pavilion and painted in gold. Pilgrims ring one of the two bells when they reach the summit . The views are just as breathtaking as you would think, and if it’s a beautiful daybreak, you might even catch a glimpse of the peak’s shadow, an eerie, almost supernatural apparition that appears to float enchantedly in midair in front of the mountain for around 20 minutes. The perfectly triangular shape of the shadow, which differs from the actual, much more asymmetrical shape of Adam’s Peak, is one of its secrets. According to Buddhism, it is actually a miracle physical portrayal of the “Triple Gem” and not at all the peak’s shadow. The likelihood of witnessing the shadow, according to locals, is 80% during the pilgrimage season and drops to 40% (or less) at other times of the year.
Since your legs will have at this point turned to jelly, the descent is more quicker (about 2 hours and 30 minutes), but it is also much more painful.
A place to stay ?
You have the option of staying in Hatton or in Dalhousie, as we did. A few straightforward lodging options are available in Dalhousie. Simply because Dalhousie is a lovely place and you can enjoy your dinner while watching the sun set over Adam’s Peak and planning your trip there, I would advise getting a stay there. Additionally, I believe it is preferable to start the climb without worrying about finding a Tuk Tuk for an hour.
Going down
First, return to your original direction as you descend. This was repeatedly explained to us, and while it would sound reasonable, I suppose some people still proceed in the wrong direction.
Similar to the way up, the first 100 meters of the descent are a bit stressful because they are crowded and steep. Just watch out not to hurry it down at first. Not to sound like your mother, but take it slow as you descend. At the summit, the stairs are steep and uneven!
Also, don’t forget to take in the scenery while you descend. It is magnificent! Oh, and don’t forget to occasionally glance behind you to take in the vista of Adam’s Peak.
There are plenty of Tuk Tuks available to transport you back to Hatton or to your accommodation in Dalhousie as you descend.
Take a shower, eat a hearty breakfast, and then nap.
What to bring?
These are some of the items we discovered to be helpful along the journey.
- Shoes that are comfortable and suitable for jogging, hiking, or both.
- Layered warm clothing is recommended. That means you should wear clothing that is simple to put on and take off because you will likely find it to be cold at first, warm as you begin to climb, and frigid once more at the peak.
- Sun-glasses and a hat is recommended. Given that the walk will begin in the dark, it is simple to ignore this.
- Water and food for you is needed. There are two crucial things. In Dalhousie, you can purchase food from neighborhood stores to carry with you. Additionally, you can get a cup of coffee, tea, or snacks at one of the little businesses you’ll pass on the route to the summit of Adam’s Peak. We packed granola bars, bananas, and chocolate and candies.
- Raincoat for you is necessary. You can get raincoats from the town’s modest businesses if you don’t already have any.
Tips you should know before you go
- Watch out for pickpockets! Since Adam’s Peak attracts a lot of tourists, it also draws those who want to take advantage of our ignorance. Keep your possessions out of reach if at all possible. People have reported having their valuables stolen. If you have a belt bag, bring it.
- Bring spare change for the restrooms, temples, etc. On a $500 note, don’t anticipate receiving change.
- Plan your trip if you can to avoid the crowds of pilgrims that gather on weekends and major festivals, especially during the tourist season.
- When you get to the summit, keep in mind the direction you came from. You don’t want to choose the incorrect route down because there are a few alternative paths to the summit.
- When climbing to the peak from Dalhousie, the sun rises in the direction you came from. That is, the sun will rise behind you as you reach the summit. We missed it and waited in the wrong area, so we didn’t get a great view of the sunrise.
- You shouldn’t have any trouble locating a nice vantage point to see the dawn, depending on how crowded the summit is. For us, the fact that there were so many people vying for a good perspective and a sight of the sunrise destroyed the “wow” factor of the scene.
- Instead, you can make your way around to the temple’s other side to observe the view of the surrounding area as the sun rises. If I could do it over, I would miss the sunrise and instead watch from the opposite side of the temple as the landscape is drenched in sunlight. Unfortunately, we were unable to see it because we were engulfed in a sea of people.
- If you reach the top before others do, you might even set up tent on some of the sizable boulders right outside the temple’s entrance. As they sat on big rocks and took in the morning, we came across numerous people who had discovered this.
Should you go?
Without a doubt, visiting Adam’s Peak is a fantastic experience, but is it worthwhile? Yes, although I wish I had known a little bit more about what to anticipate at the top. Even though it was a little difficult, the entire experience of rising early and beginning the hike was wonderful and fun. But after we reached the top, things quickly turned chaotic and congested until we located a place to relax and watch the sunrise.
Get there early, choose a decent place, and wait it out if you want a better experience in the temple area. Stay around for a while after sunrise to take in the 360-degree vista if you are not too fatigued and in a rush to leave! Unfortunately, we didn’t, and that upsets me a little.
You should definitely go if you want to, but skipping the experience is hardly the end of the world, in my opinion. It is 2-3 days outside of your schedule, as was already discussed. I would, however, highly recommend a trip to Adam’s Peak if you can go when there aren’t too many people around, perhaps on a Monday or Tuesday and outside of the busiest months. This encounter might become one of the high points of your trip to Sri Lanka with proper planning.
