Sri Pada, the sacred mountain
Adam's Peak
Climb 5,500 steps in the dark with pilgrims of four faiths, and watch the peak cast a perfect triangle at sunrise.
Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians all hold the footprint on the summit sacred, and in season the path is lit and lined with tea stalls all night. You start around 2 am, reach the top for sunrise, and see the mountain's shadow thrown across the clouds. It is hard and everyone who does it is glad they did.
What we do here
- Night ascent for sunrise with a local guide
- Recovery day at a tea bungalow in Hatton or Dickoya
- Castlereagh reservoir by boat
- Tea trail walk between estates
Worth knowing
- The summit is 2,243 metres; the climb from Nallathanniya is about 7 km
- Pilgrimage season runs from the December full moon to the May full moon
- Most people take 3 to 4 hours up and 2 to 3 down
- Outside season the path is dark and quiet; go with a guide and headlamps
