There May be no Sunrise on Earth like that of Adam’s Peak

They had said it would be pretty.  They had said it would be a challenging climb.  They had said it held spiritual significance.

They didn’t say it would be the most amazing sunrise view in all of Sri Lanka, or perhaps all of Asia, or dare I say, the world.

Okay maybe not the world but it was definitely in my top 5.

I have a thing for climbing and hiking, especially for a sunrise.  It’s what my family always did together and there’s nothing like the view at the top of a strenuous hike to provide the perfect reward for all that hard work – not to mention you can totally have chocolate milk after.  I mean you’ve earned it, amiright or amiright?

Adam’s Peak (or Sri Prada) is so-named because it is believed that Adam’s footprint rests at the top, if you ask a Musilm or Christian, that is.  If you ask a Buddhist, it is most certainly the Buddha’s footprint, and if you ask a Hindu, it belongs to Shiva.

Either way, it has become a significant pilgrimage place for several faiths, resulting in large numbers of locals making the more than 5,000-stair climb to the peak at 2,243 meters (7,359 feet) over 5 kilometers (3-ish miles) during the months of December to May along a well-lit path.

I elected to go the week right before the pilgrimage season began, which ended up being the best idea ever.

The pathways were not lit during this time, so I brought a headlamp along so as not to stumble and fall, which I am prone to do.

During the peak pilgrimage season, hundreds if not thousands of people flock to Adam’s Peak each day for the sunrise, making it a crowded climb. When I went, there were only about 50 people at the top, which even at this lower number was probably the max that the peak could comfortably accommodate.

Hiking up with the stars (shutting off my headlamp every now and then and just sitting and admiring), not worrying about anyone else passing by, and happily not missing out on The Milky Way that would be shut out by lighting, was perfect to me.

I had read various forums saying that it would be unsafe to try the climb during the off-season, or that it was closed.  I’m happy to report this is untrue and I’d urge anyone who wants to try it, as long as it’s not raining (because that would make it quite unpleasant and muddy), to give it a shot.

Yes, it’s a bit of a challenge to climb up 5,000+ stairs, but it’s well worth it. Even the red-faced couple I ran into about a half hour from the top, worried they wouldn’t make it, arrived in plenty of time to see the sunrise.

And my, what a truly marvelous sunrise it was.

The walk down, given all those stairs, was a challenge for the knees, but on the high of the sunrise, I barely felt it.  Once I was done with the steep stairs, I leaped, ran, and bounded the rest of the way down.  Total time was about 6 hours – 4 of which were spent climbing, 2 of which were spent waiting for and then admiring the sunrise.

Do it yourself:

• The base town for Adam’s Peak is Dalhousie where there are guesthouses and restaurants
• Dalhousie can be accessed by direct bus from Colombo or Kandy during the peak season.  During the off-season, it must be accessed via Maskeliya which can be reached by taking a bus from Hatton where there are both busses and railway stops
• If you want to take a tuk-tuk from Hatton, thereby avoiding overcrowded and uncomfortable busses, the going rate is about 1,000 rupee (about $6)
• The tuk-tuk driver will probably bring you to a guesthouse. I can’t recommend any place in particular, but haggle for the room if during the off-season
• In order to leave ample time to make it to the top, start the hike around 2:30-3am. I arrived at the summit a bit too early and had a cold wait at the top, but I passed by a lot of hikers as well who arrived well after me, so adjust according to your hiking abilities
• Be sure to bring a headlamp (if hiking during off-season), jacket, and water
• A little tip: the best viewing for the sunrise is at the small platform to the left of the stairs just a few feet from the top (if you’re facing the peak) rather than the peak itself
• Cost: 100% free though there are monks near the entrance who will tie a white string around your wrist, say a chant, and ask for a donation, which is completely up to you
• Little shops will be selling roti and hot tea near the top – even during the off-season

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