Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) Pilgrimage Season
From the December full moon to Vesak in May, the path up Adam's Peak is lit all night, and pilgrims climb thousands of steps to reach the summit for sunrise.
Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) is a 2,243 m mountain with a footprint-shaped mark on its summit. Buddhists believe it is the Buddha's footprint, Hindus believe it is Shiva's, and many Muslims and Christians call it Adam's. The pilgrimage season runs from Unduvap Poya in December to Vesak Poya in May. That is the time to climb.
The season opens when sacred objects and the statue of the god Saman are carried in procession from Pelmadulla up to the summit temple, and it closes on Vesak, when they are brought back down. In between, the path from Nallathanni (Dalhousie) is lit through the night, and tea shops and food stalls stay open all the way up.
Most people start around 2 am and climb thousands of steps for three to four hours to reach the top before sunrise. At dawn, if the sky is clear, the peak casts a perfect triangular shadow over the hills to the west. Pilgrims ring the bell at the summit once for each time they have made the climb.
Weekends and Poya days are extremely crowded, and the queue near the top can stop moving for hours, so a weekday is much better. It is cold and windy at the summit before dawn: bring a warm layer, a torch and water. The Ratnapura route from the other side is longer and much harder. Outside the season, the lights are off and the shops are closed. For more of the area, see things to do in Nuwara Eliya.
At a glance
- When: Usually in December
- Duration: About 5 months (December to May)
- Venue: Adam's Peak (Sri Pada), via Nallathanni
- Organizer: Sri Pada temple
- Entry: Free