Adam's Peak
As the name Adam's Peak suggests, Christians and Muslims associate this 2243 m high, extremely prominent mountain in the southwestern highlands of Sri Lanka with Adam. However, it is sacred to all religions. From November to April (full moon to full moon), it is the most important pilgrimage site in the country. Every Sinhalese Buddhist is said to have made a pilgrimage to the holy mountain once in his life.
The goal of the pilgrims is the sacred footprint on the summit. Depending on the religion, it is said to come from Buddha, Adam or Shiva. Tourists climb the mountain mainly because of its fabulous view.
Things to do at Adam's Peak
If you want to climb Adam ́s Peak, it is best to start around 2:00/2:30 a.m. to stand on the summit at sunrise. The path is moderate at first, but after half an hour it climbs significantly and leads to a path of 5200 (irregular) steps. A total of 1,120 meters of altitude have to be climbed, the mountain itself is 2,243 meters high, and the same way to descend again. A thoroughly energy-sapping tour.
During the climb, numerous simple tea rooms offer snacks and hot drinks. The footprint itself is not visible, but you can ring a large bell as a sign of its presence. Our tip: Don't forget a powerful headlamp for the ascent!
Best time to travel and climate for Adam's Peak
Between December and February, the thermometer at Adam's Peak drops to 1 to 7 degrees at night, but different temperature specifications apply to different altitudes. In addition, there is a biting wind that quickly cools down the body during breaks. Warm, windproof clothing is indispensable.
At 600 to 700 meters, the night temperature is 16 to 19° C. It gets almost evenly 25 to 28°C during the day throughout the year and most rainy days are from October to December. The driest month is June and the rest of the year the rainfall is moderate. The climate values for higher altitudes at Adam's Peak are on average 10°C lower.
Itineraries through Adam's Peak
The ascent takes about 3.5 hours, the descent 2.5 hours. So around 9:00 a.m. you are already back at the starting point. You can spend the night in guesthouses in the nearby towns of Maskeliya or Dalhousie, a provincial village lined with souvenir shops.
The nearest train station/larger bus station is Hatton, about an hour away, which is also on the train route between Kandy and Ella. From Hatton you can get to Dalhousie by three-wheeler or taxi.
The ascent of Adam ́s Peak is usually combined with an exploration of the highlands. For onward travel/arrival, the following are recommended:
- in northern Kandy (90 km or 3.5 hours by car/3 hours by train from Hatton)
- to the west, Nuwara Eliya (72 km or 2.5 hours by car/2 hours by train from Hatton).
- to the west, Ella (125 km or 4.5 hours by car/4 hours by train from Hatton)
Trekking enthusiasts should not miss the Horton ́s Plains National Park. This can be reached in 3.5 hours (overnight stay before the hike to the World ́s End in Nuwara Eliya). If you want to experience the last primary forest in Sri Lanka, you can travel from Adam ́s Peak to the Sinharaja Forest (overnight stay e.g. in Rakwana, about four hours from Dalhousie).
