ADAM'S PEAK (SRI PADA)
Read moreAdam's Peak is one of the most important mountains in Sri Lanka, both geographically and religiously. Its peak is 2,243 meters high. Revered by the first inhabitants of Sri Lanka, the Veddas, who called it Samanala Kanda (Saman, one of the four guardian deities of the island), its summit has what is believed to be a footprint carved into the stone. Buddhists see it as a symbol of the third (and last) passage of Buddha in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese dedicated it in the 16th century to Saint Thomas, the evangelizer of India. The Hindus see in it the trace of the passage of Vishnu or Shiva. Finally, the Muslims have decreed that it is the imprint of Adam, who, driven out of the Garden of Eden, was sent to this peak and condemned to remain on one foot for a thousand years. The mark in the stone attracts crowds of pilgrims every year from the full moon in December to the full moon in May (the busiest period is January-February). Two main ways (north and south) allow to reach the summit where a temple is located. The northern route is the easiest and allows to reach the destination in 3 hours of walk from Nallathianniya.
Several stations, spaced 1.5 to 2 kilometers apart, allow pilgrims to rest on the 7 kilometers and 5,831 steps that separate them from the summit from Nallathianniya. Their names are Gangula Thanna, Rathu Ambalama and Idikatu Pahana. They are well supplied with shops.
Many temples(Ambalama) are also scattered along the way which becomes more and more difficult as the climb progresses.
The climb really begins once you pass the beautiful Makara Thorana stone gate, about 1.5 kilometers from the bridge over the river at the exit of Nallathianniya. However, the seven kilometers of the route are counted from Nallathianniya (Police Station) to the top.
SamaChatiya, the World Peace Pagoda, which is located a little before Gangula Thanna, the first rest station, was built in 1976 by the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Nichidatsu Fuhi Thero (1885-1985).
A devotee of non-violence, he organized large marches from 1931 onwards and was responsible for the construction of about 80 Peace Pagodas around the world.
Sri Pada Maluwa. This small whitewashed temple at the top of Sri Pada is surrounded by a walkway that can accommodate a maximum of half a dozen people. Inside the sanctuary, which is relatively simple, is the sacred footprint. On a clear day, the shadow of the mountain can be discerned, straight and perfectly vertical, amidst the mist. This unexplainable natural phenomenon is said to be unique in the world.
According to the ancient Sinhalese, the distance between Ceylon and Paradise was only 40 miles and one could hear from the top of the mountain the sound of the fountains of Paradise. Sri Pada is also called "Butterfly Mountain" because in March of each year, millions of butterflies fly to its summit to die. The ascent is usually done at night to enjoy the breathtaking sunrise. It is necessary to bring adequate clothing, because the nights can be fresh. A headlamp can also be useful. Once the sun rises, the sky becomes hazy and the panorama disappears little by little.