Adam's Peak

Adam’s Peak, also known as Sri Pada, is a mountain in the south of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Featuring a rock formation considered as the footprint of Buddha for Buddhist, Shiva for Hindus and Adam for Muslims and Christians, the Adam’s Peak is one of the popular tourist attractions in Sri Lanka. The mountain has a path to the top consisting of several thousand steps, many of different heights and uneven.

Surrounded largely by the forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size anywhere near the vicinity, the region of Peak Wilderness Sanctuary together with Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Range, all in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka is recognized as a World Heritage Site in the year 2011.

Access to the Adam’s Peak is possible by 6 trails - Hatton-Nallathanni; Ratnapura-Palabaddala; Kuruwita-Erathna; Murraywatte; Mookuwatte; Malimboda. The most popular routes are the Hatton-Nallathanni & Ratnapura-Palabaddala due to its picturesque views and postcard worthy scenery that can be encountered along them.

Attractions

The Sama Chatiya at Adam’s Peak - After a few minutes climb, you can find the Sama Chatiya, the World Peace Pagoda. Built by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Ven Nichi Fuji in 1976, the stupa is maintained by several Japanese monks.

Sunrise and the Shadow of the Mount - When the sun is just about to rise, it leaps over the eastern horizon drawing a perfect triangle of a shadow of the mountain spreading over the western backdrop of the mountain.

The Sacred Footprint - The centre of attraction at Adam’s Peak is a stone tablet covering the sacred footprint of Lord Buddha. Many pilgrims attempt the climb solely for the purpose of paying homage to the shrine.

Best time to visit
The pilgrims season to Sri Pada traditionally starts on the full moon of December and ends on the full moon of April. During the latter half of the season, more people attempt the climb with each passing day.