Adams Peak
Then……and
now
Every religious person in Sri Lanka is expected to climb Adam's
Peak at least once in their lifetime, and preferably
several times. As the Buddha is supposed to have left
his sri patul (footprint) here, the Sinhalese refer
to the mountain as Sri Pada ("Sacred Footprint"),
and consider it one of the 16 most sacred places in
the country. But adherents to other religions also make
pilgrimages here. The Hindus see in the Buddha an incarnation
of Vishnu, or believe that the footprint was left by
the god Shiva, performing the dance of creation. The
Christians believe the footprint belongs to the doubting
apostle St. Thomas before his martyrdom in Madras (Chennai).
And the Muslims say it is Adam's footprint, who was
serving a thousand-year sentence on one leg for misconduct
in Paradise. Whatever their religious affiliation, pilgrims
have been journeying to Adam's Peak for more than 1000
years. Culminating at 2243 m, Adam's Peak is not the
highest mountain in Sri Lanka, but its perfect, conical
silhouette endows it with a majestic quality.
Nowadays, a long flight of 4800 or so steps, cut or built into the
bedrock, enables pilgrims to make the ascent, weather
permitting, between January and April, with most people
beginning their pilgrimage from Dalhousie (pronounced
"del-house"). For these months, the path to
the summit is a long series of shops selling tea and
sweets, caps to protect pilgrims' heads from the icy
wind on the top, religious images and alarm clocks,
against a background of loudspeakers pouring out devout
blessings. At weekends and on full-moon (poya) days
during the pilgrimage season, up to 20,000 people of
all ages make their way up the narrow path leading to
the summit. Right at the top, on the tiny platform,
pilgrims take it in turns to ring the bell of the temple
of the holy footprint (which is a 1-metre long hollow in
the rock!) and to get blessed by one of the resident
Buddhist monks.
During the calm bright months of the
"season" for pilgrims (January to April),
the incredible sunrise produces the famous spectacle
known as the "Shadow of the Peak", which leaves
all who have seen it spellbound. This extraordinary
phenomenon is a projection of the mountain's shadow
on the lower lying clouds as the sun rises, and if you
feel fit enough to join the countless pilgrims on the
summit at dawn, it will be one of the most rewarding
experiences of your tour of Sri Lanka.
To climb Adam's Peak for the spectacular
sunrise, a 1-day tour with an overnight stay at
Dalhousie is recommended.
The views from here are also breathtaking, day or night.
With the first rays of sun you can make out the reservoirs
and tea plantations at the foot of the mountain. Towards
the west on the densely wooded slopes of the Peak Wilderness
Sanctuary you begin to see the triangular shadow of
the sacred mountain through the morning mist. At the
sight of the sunrise and the mountain's shadow, devout
pilgrims excitedly chant "sadhu!" (holy).
People who have made the ascent several times ring the
small bell in the temple as many times as they have
made the journey.
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