Adam’s Peak, also known as Sri Pada, is a 2,243m (7,359 ft) mountain in the central highland region of Sri Lanka. Popular for Sri Lankans and tourists alike. The typical climb is started in the middle of the night so you can reach the peak for a breathtaking adams peak sunrise. Mix of incline trekking and 5,000-6,000 crumbling stone steps. Going up is ok, but going down is very hard on your knees and IT bands. No technical climbing necessary. Takes most people 2-4 hours to summit based on fitness, crowds, and breaks. 1-2hours to come back down.
The mountain has accumulated a mass of legends centred around the curious depression at its summit, the Sri Pada or Sacred Footprint. The original Buddhist story claims that this is the footprint of the Buddha himself, made at the request of the local god Saman; different faiths subsequently modified this to suit their own contrasting theologies. Sometime around the eighth century, Muslims began to claim the footprint to be that of Adam, who is said to have first set foot on earth here after being cast out of heaven, and who stood on the mountain’s summit on one leg in penitence until his sins were forgiven – Hindu tradition, meanwhile, claimed that the footprint was created by Shiva. Many centuries later, the colonial Portuguese attempted to rescue the footprint for the Christian faith, claiming that it belonged to St Thomas, the founder of the religion in India, though no one seems to have ever taken this random assertion very seriously.
From Colombo to Adams Peak
The best way to get to Adams peak fromColombo is by train. Head to the train station on the edge of Colombo and jump on a train to Hatton. Then take the bus or tuk-tuk to Dalhousie.
That being said, some travelers prefer to hire a driver for their entire Sri Lankan tour. This costs quite a bit more money but it makes you more flexible and cuts down on travel time. Travelers loved the public trains in Sri Lankan even though they are slower. So much beauty in this country!
From Ella to Adams Peak
Most people take a train from Ella to Adams peak. The Express train takes about 4.5 hours. Adams peak is approximately halfway between Ella and Kandy. We must mention that the train ride from Ella to Hatton (nearest station to Adams peak) is beautiful and many people consider it a highlight of their Sri Lankan adventure.
Hatton to Adams Peak
You’ve most likely arrived to Hatton by train. Congrats you’re almost there! The next step offers you some options. The cheapest (and slowest) way is to take the bus from Hatton to Dalhousie. You can also take a taxi or tuk-tuk, however we recommend spitting it with other hikers to save money and meet some friends! Taxi takes between 60-90 minutes and the bus is a little longer.
