GUNUNG · Sri Lanka

Adam's Peak

ශ්‍රී පාද (Sri Pada) / ஆதாம் மலை (Aathaama Malai) / Samanalakanda

Information

Elevation: 2.243 m
Country: Sri Lanka (LK)
Location / Range: Sri Lanka Central Highlands, border of Sabaragamuwa, Central, and Uva Provinces
Mountain type: Granite peak (hard rock, non-volcanic)
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 6.8097, 80.4996
Difficulty: Easy–moderate: the main trail from Nallathanniya (Dalhousie) has more than 5,000 lit concrete steps; it is tiring due to the gradient and length of the trail (about 7 km one way). Setting off at midnight is recommended so you reach the summit at dawn.
Best Season: December–April (the official pilgrimage season; the steps are lit and stalls open all night). Avoid May–October (southwest monsoon: heavy rain, slippery trail, thick fog, blocked views).
Permits & Rules: No official permit required. A foreign-visitor entry fee is charged at the park entrance. There are many guesthouses in Dalhousie (Nallathanniya).
Hazards: Concrete steps slippery when raining, extreme crowds at night in peak pilgrimage season, hypothermia at the summit before dawn (strong wind), fatigue from the long up-and-down route.

Description

Adam's Peak (2,243 m), known in Sinhala as Sri Pada meaning 'Sacred Footprint', is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites in South Asia and Sri Lanka's most iconic hiking destination. Its summit shelters a rock formation venerated by four major religions: by Buddhists as the footprint of the Buddha, by Hindus as the footprint of Shiva, by Muslims as the spot where Adam first stepped on Earth after the Fall, and by Christians as the footprint of the Apostle St. Thomas. These four traditions have held this 2,243 m peak sacred for centuries, giving rise to one of the world's rarest multi-faith pilgrimage traditions. The pilgrimage season runs December–April, when thousands of devotees climb nightly from Nallathanniya (Dalhousie) via more than 5,000 lit concrete steps to witness sunrise and the famous triangular 'shadow of the peak' cast perfectly onto the cloud layer below. Beyond the modern Nallathanniya trail, older routes from Ratnapura and Palabaddala continue to serve pilgrims as they have for centuries.

Routes

Jalur Ratnapura — rute ziarah tradisional dari selatan

Sedang–berat (jalur alam sebagian besar, lebih panjang, tanpa fasilitas penuh di luar musim ziarah)

8–10 jam naik (rute lebih panjang dan tidak bertanda baik)

The Ratnapura route is one of the oldest traditional paths used by pilgrims for centuries before the Dalhousie trail became dominant. Starting from the town of Ratnapura on the southern side, it passes through dense forest within the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary National Park. The route is much longer and far less crowded than the Dalhousie trail, offering a quieter and more spiritually immersive pilgrimage through Sri Lanka's tropical rainforest. Many Sri Lankan Buddhist pilgrims choose this route for its deeper spiritual significance, despite the greater physical challenge.

Source

References

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