Climb up Adam's Peak for sunrise watching
Situated in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, the imposing Adam's Peak at 2,243 meters is not only one of Sri Lanka’s most striking natural landmarks, but also an important pilgrimage site to several religions. People believe that the rock formation at its summit is the footprint of the Buddha, giving it well-known name the Sri Pada, or the “sacred footprint”. Many centuries later, Muslims claimed the footprint to be that of Shiva, while for the Christian faith, it belonged to St Thomas. For tourists, Adam's Peak is a popular and picturesque hiking place for a breathtaking sunrise watching. There are 6 different trails to the summit, and the most favored routes are from Dalhousie aka Nallathanniya and Palabaddala. The climb is traditionally made by night with a mix of incline trekking and 5,000-6,000 crumbling stone steps, taking around 4 hours, and you will reach the top in time for dawn. The best time to hike is from January to May when the weather on the mountain is at its best and visitors can enjoy the extraordinary sunrise views free from cloud.
