|
Adam's Peak is located in central Sri Lanka and is about 7,760 feet tall. It has the sacred footprint or the Sri Pada, which is a rock formation near the foothills. According to Buddhists, this is believed to be the footprint of Buddha.
Sri Pada is a pilgrimage site for Hindus, Christians and Buddhists alike. There are various routes for reaching the top of the mountain, where the footprint is located. The uphill journey takes more than 6-7 hours.
There are six trails which offer a climb up to the mountain. These are the Ratnapura-Palabaddala trail, the Hatton-Nallathanni trail, the Kuruwita-Erathna trail, the Murraywatte trail, the Mookuwatte trail and the Malimboda trail. The Hatton trail is the most popular one amongst pilgrims as it offers the shortest path.
Some of the sightseeing options available here are the Horton Plains National Park, the Sama Chatiya and the Bhagava Cave. The Sama Chatiya is a world peace pagoda. It was built by Ven Nichi Fuji in 1976. The Bhagava cave is an ancient cave which has ancient inscriptions written on its walls.
There is also the Ancient Chains path, which leads down to Ratnapura and used to be the only path in the olden days. The Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, which lies 8 km from Ratnapura is another popular attraction.
Adam’s Peak lies in the wet zone of the country. The place receives rainfall throughout the year and the humidity levels here remain high throughout. The months of January to April are relatively dry. April is the peak season here as it is dry and hence, easier to climb up.
|
