Adam's Peak, Sacred summit in Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka
Adam's Peak rises 2243 meters above the Ratnapura district and draws visitors up a stone staircase with 5200 steps leading to a temple at the top. The climb passes through dense forest and open rock faces, while the final sections grow steeper and reveal views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Travelers from the 13th and 14th centuries already described the chains that held pilgrims steady on the way up. The summit served as a pilgrimage destination for different faith communities over centuries, with each interpreting the rock formation in their own way.
The summit houses a rock formation resembling a footprint, which Buddhists attribute to Buddha, Muslims to Adam, and Hindus to Shiva.
Most hikers begin their climb in the early morning hours from the village of Nallathanniya to see the sunrise from the top. Warm clothing is advisable, as temperatures at the summit are considerably cooler than in the valley.
At sunrise, the mountain casts a perfectly triangular shadow across the surrounding plains, a natural display visible only from the summit. This effect comes from the cone-shaped silhouette and the low position of the sun on the horizon.
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