The popular excursion destination in Sri Lanka
Adams Peak, also known as Sri Pada, is the most famous mountain in Sri Lanka due to its importance as a pilgrimage destination. It is located in the southern highlands and at 2243 meters is the fifth highest peak on the island. The ascent involves no less than 5200 steps.
Followers of various religions make a pilgrimage to the peak every year at sunrise, where they believe there is a large, sacred footprint. While Christians and Muslims believe that the footprint is from Adam, who came to earth here when he was banished from paradise, Buddhists believe that Buddha left the earth at this point on his way to paradise.
For Hindus, it is the footprint of their god Shiva, while other legends say it comes from the Indian apostle St. Thomas. In addition, the name "Samanaḷakande" is commonly used in Sinhala, which means "butterfly mountain", as according to some stories, butterflies come here to die.
Sunrise on Adams Peak
Many tourists also mingle with the devout pilgrims, as the climb is worthwhile even without a spiritual background: it is common to set off in the middle of the night to watch the spectacular sunrise from the top.
If the sun is high enough, it opens up a magnificent view over the surrounding region; on a clear day, you can even see Colombo, 65 kilometers away.
Another event worth seeing is when the sun has already risen and slowly climbs so high that Adams Peak casts a clear shadow down into the valley. It is therefore worthwhile not starting the descent immediately after sunrise.
The pilgrimage season begins with the full moon in December and ends with the full moon in May, when the Vesak festival is celebrated in honor of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. Crowds of locals and tourists make a daily pilgrimage up the mountain during this time.
It gets particularly crowded on full moon days (Poya Days), weekends and the Sri Lankan New Year in mid-April. The number of visitors can be so high that you may have to stop for a few hours on the way up and wait for it to continue.
It has happened to some people that they have not made it to the top of Adam Peak in time for sunrise. However, the atmosphere is particularly exuberant and cheerful on these days, which can make up for the seemingly annoying waiting times.
During the season, the path is well lit with fairy lights and there is a tea store every few meters where you can take a break and recharge your batteries. If you want to climb Adams Peak outside of the pilgrimage season, you must remember to bring a torch or headlamp and enough water and food with you. Visibility may be limited out of season due to the weather, and relatively strong winds can also occur. However, you will share the steps and the peak with far fewer people than in high season.
Adams Peak Sri Lanka - Route 1
The most popular route starts on the north side of the mountain in Dalhousie and is 7 kilometers long.
While the first part of the route is still relatively flat, the ascent begins after around half an hour: 5200 steps await you to be climbed. The challenge lies in the fact that the steps are by no means evenly high and deep. Both the ascent and descent therefore require a high level of attention and sturdy footwear. Depending on your fitness level, you can reach the top in 2.5 - 4 hours. You should therefore set off from Dalhousie at around 2:30 to allow enough time for the ascent. It is best to dress in an onion look, as it tends to be very fresh at over 2000 meters in the early morning, but the sun quickly gains strength during the descent. Although the descent is much quicker than the ascent, it is no less strenuous on the knees - it is completely normal for your knees and legs to ache after a visit to Adam's Peak.
Dalhousie is located near the village of Hatton, which you can easily reach by train from Kandy or Ella. From Hatton, you can either take the bus for 1.5 hours (approx. 70 rupees) or take a tuk tuk for 1500 rupees (approx. 1 hour). In Dalhousie there are plenty of guesthouses and restaurants catering to pilgrims.
Adams Peak - Route 2
A second route starts in the south of Adam's Peak in Ratnapura and is preferred by many devout pilgrims. At 15 kilometers, the route is significantly longer and also more challenging than the one from Dalhousie; you should allow 7 hours for the ascent here. The third route from Kuruwita-Erathna is a little off the beaten track. This is around 18 kilometers long and is comparable in difficulty to the route from Ratnapura. The two trails meet about two kilometers before the top of the mountain.
Before descending, you should definitely make sure that you take the right way down: It is extremely annoying if you start in Dalhousie in the north and end up in Ratnapura in the south.
Adams Peak Sri Lanka - Entrance
Adams Peak in Sri Lanka is one of the few tourist attractions for which no entrance fee is charged to foreigners due to its importance as a pilgrimage destination. However, especially during the pilgrimage season, there are some monks at the start of the path who ask for a donation, which is often fixed. You can then decide for yourself whether you want to make a donation or not.
