The Sunrise Hike of Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka listed as one of Lonely Planets ”Eight Epic Hikes of The World.
Lonely Planet’s Book, which portrays a selection of remarkable walks from across the globe, have documented the eminent Sunrise Hike: Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka as one of the Eight Epic Hikes of The World. Coupled with stories of 50 whimsical mountaineering routes in 30 countries, this book will enthuse a lifetime of escapade on foot. From one-day trips and urban paths, cultural strolls and mountain voyages, each journey shares one central feature: being truly epic.
Adams’s Peak, a mountain of great historical interest, positioned in a gorgeous area of the Southern Hill Country, has allured to its heights millions of the human race, the ascent of which should be accomplished by all travellers who are possessed of the necessary energy and physique for the task. There is no mountain more familiar to the inhabitants of Ceylon, or one that makes a deeper impression upon the multitudes who visit her shores, than the lofty cone which bears the name of our first parent. Among all the mountains in the world capitalised by tradition & with superstitious reverence, none has enthused the emotions of so many of our fellow subjects as Adam’s Peak. The origin of its sacred charm, involved at once as it is in the legendary history of several ancient religions, has been the subject of considerable research and greater conjecture.
The folklores take their rise in the mark on the summit resembling the impression of a colossal human foot. This the Buddhists fervently worship as the blessed footprint of Gautama Buddha, while the Hindus equally claim it as that of Siva, and the Mahommedans, borrowing their history from the Jews, as that of Adam. The mountain is known by many names; most commonly as Adam’s Peak (Where upon being exiled from heaven, the place where Adam first set foot on Earth), Sri Pada (Sacred Footprint of Lord Buddha), or perhaps most lyrically as Samanalakande (Butterfly Mountain; where butterflies come to perish).
The pilgrimage season commences on the Full Moon Poya Day in December and proceeds until the Vesak festival in May. During the season, tourists & pilgrims alike make the ascent up the myriad steps to the peak. Many tourists make their plans for arriving at the peak just before dawn, doing the steep part of the climb by torchlight or by moonlight if the occasion happens to be favourable; but those who wish to avoid travelling in the night can arrange to arrive at sunset, taking up camping equipment for the night and sleeping on the peak.
Whilst at the summit of Adam’s Peak, the sky changes colours every minute, from crimson to gold, commencing from the crack of dawn, all the way up to sunrise. One can literally observe the golden ball of fire moving right before your eyes those few seconds where the Sun brings itself out.
No other Mountain depicts the same unhindered view over land and sea. Around it to the north and east, the voyager gazes down on the zone of lofty hills that embrace the Kandyan Kingdom, whilst to the westward, the eye is carried far over undulated plains, strung by rivers like twines of silver, till in the purple horizon the shimmer of the sunbeams on the sea signifies the streak of the Indian Ocean.
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