Adam’s Peak, commonly referred to as Sri Pada by the local populace, is one of the most sacred places on the island. Each of the major religions present within the island has their own beliefs about the nature of the mountain, especially in regards to the footprint-shaped formation that is located at the summit. It is one of the most essential experiences involving Sri Lanka destinations which are bound to be a part of packages offered by any vacation provider the island has to offer such as Aitken Spence Travels.
The footprint is the hallmark of the mountain, and the name is derived from a belief that Sri Lanka was once the biblical land of Eden and the first man was the one who caused the footprint. The Buddhist majority of Sri Lanka believes that the footprint belongs to the Lord Buddha and is a mark of his visit to Sri Lanka after being invited by the god that resides over the mountain.
There are various trails which can be utilised to reach the summit of the mountain, and the most popular of which is the Hatton-Nallathanni route. It is also the shortest since it starts off at a fairly high elevation, reducing the required distance. For the most demanding experience, there’s the Ihala-Maliboda trail where the majority of the trail is through thick jungle. Venturing through this trail will also require you to cross a number of lakes, which are known to contain flash floods. The initial eight kilometres of the Ihala-Maliboda trail are through very isolated terrain.
The ideal season to visit Adam’s Peak is from December through till May. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, there are night tours that can be arranged as well for those looking to scale the mountain after sun-down. Regardless of what time you choose, scaling this mountain is an essential experience if you find yourself in Sri Lanka.
