Sri Pada or Adam’s Peak is an ancient pilgrimage site, which
has long attracted thousands of pilgrims from all faiths. This conical mountain
is 7,360 feet (2,250 meters )high, soaring clear above the surrounding mountain
ranges. The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central
Highlands in the Ratnapura District and Nuwara Eliya district of the
Sabaragamuwa Province and Central Province —lying about 40 km northeast of the
city of Ratnapura and 32 km southwest of the city of Hatton. The surrounding
region is largely forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby.
The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve, housing
many species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic
species. The region of Peak Wilderness Sanctuary that encompass the Sri Pada
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.
Sri Pada is derived from Sanskrit, used by the Sinhalese
people in a religious context; roughly translated as “the sacred foot”, It
refers to the footprint-shaped mark at the summit, which is believed by
Buddhists to be that of the Buddha. Christian and Islamic traditions assert
that it is the footprint of Adam, left when first setting foot on Earth after
having been cast out of paradise, giving it the name “Adam’s Peak”. The legends
of Adam are connected to the idea that Sri Lanka was the original Eden, and in
the Muslim tradition that Adam was 30 ft tall. Hindu tradition refers to the
footprint as that of the Hindu deity Shiva, and thus names the mountain Shiva
padam (Shiva’s foot) in Tamil. It is also fabled that the mountain is the
legendary mount Trikuta the capital of Ravana during the Ramayana times from
where he ruled Lanka. Another Sinhala name for the mountain is Samanalakanda,
which refers either to the deity Saman, who is said to live upon and protect
the mountain (a shrine dedicated to the deity can be found near the footprint),
or to the butterflies (samanalayā) that frequent the mountain during their
annual migrations to the region.
The summit of the mountain is a small plateau, and according
to measurements it is 74 ft. in length and 24 ft. in breadth. On the top of the
Peak broad steps lead up to a walled enclosure containing the rock over which
is a tower-like structure. The real footprint on Adam’s Peak is believed to be
set in jewels beneath the visible rock. The soles of the Buddha’s feet are said
to be flat with all the toes of equal length. On each sole there are one
hundred and eight auspicious marks (mangalalakkhana), with the wheel (chakra)
the principal mark at the centre while around it are grouped figures of
animals, inhabitants of various worlds and other kinds of symbols. 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 the picturesque views and postcard worthy scenery that can be
encountered along them. Once a final node is reached (Nallanthanni or
Palabaddala or Erathna), there begins the difficult journey through the jungle
on foot.
Most of the pilgrims use the Hatton route as the journey can
be reduced by more than five kilometers even though the slope of this route is
much steeper than the others. The greater part of the track leading from the
base to the summit consists of thousands of steps built in cement or rough
stones. The trails are illuminated with electric light, making night-time
ascent possible and safe to do even when accompanied by children. Rest stops
and wayside shops along the trails serve refreshments and supplies. On the way
up, after a few minutes climb the SamaChatiya, the World Peace Pagoda, can be
found.This stupa was built by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk VenNichi Fuji
in 1976 and stands out dramatically with the amazing backdrop of Adam’s Peak
during the daytime.
The pilgrims’ season to Sri Pada traditionally starts on the
full moon of December and ends on the full moon of April, with the crowd
increasing during the latter half of the season. During other months it is hard
to climb the mountain due to very heavy rain, extreme wind, and thick mist.
Most people make the climb by night to reach the mountain top to watch the sun
rise over the sea; the sun almost leaps over the eastern horizon drawing a
perfect triangle of a shadow of the mountain spreading over the western
backdrop of the mountain. As the sun keeps on rising, the shadow shifts towards
the base of the mountain until it completely disappears, a grand finale to a
breathtaking natural spectacle. Sri Pada is one of the rare places that people
of four major religions in the world worship. Devotees of many religions climb
the mountain daily to invoke blessings while trekkers enjoy an exhilarating
hike through the different access routes to the summit.
