Join local pilgrims on a night climb of Adam’s peak for a magical dawn. Streams of white-clad pilgrims from across the world pour year-round up the thousands of steps leading to the top of Adam’s Peak. This mountain is sacred to all four major religions of Sri Lanka. Buddhists call the mountain Sri Pada (‘the sacred footprint’) and say it was visited by the Buddha who placed his footprint on top of the mountain. To Hindus, it is ‘Shiva Adipatham’ and has Shiva’s footprint. Muslims believe it is the place where Adam first set foot on earth when he was expelled from the Garden of Eden, while Roman Catholics insist the footprint impressed on the boulder at the summit is that of St. Thomas, the early Christian apostle who preached in South India.
The climb usually starts around 2 AM to allow trekkers to reach the summit by sunrise. The trail is well-marked with around 6,000 steps, making it a very challenging yet rewarding hike. The path is illuminated by candles. The atmosphere can be quite spiritual with the sounds of drums and chanting.
The ascent passes through lush forests and tea plantations, with the temperature dropping with altitude. The final stretch to the summit is steep, but the view from the top is spectacular, with the sun rising over the surrounding mountains and valleys.
