Sri Pada in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

The top of the mountain has a huge “footprint”-like hollow, also known as Adam’s peak footprint.

Sri Pada is famous amongst not only tourists but Sri Lankans too for its importance as a pilgrimage site. However, different communities have different perceptions regarding the origin and reality of these footprints. While Buddhists believe these mark Buddha’s left footprint, Hindus maintain that they belong to Lord Shiva. And at the same time, Muslims and Christians claim it for it to be the first step of Adam after being exiled from the Eden Gardens.

Facts About Sri Pada

Located 7 kilometers from Dalhousie Village, the visitors need to climb 5000 stairs to reach the peak. With usual pace, it takes around 4 hours for the entire inclined trekking and to climb up these stairs and reach the top. But the experience altogether is an ecstatic one at dawn with mesmerizing views from the top. Little Adam’s peak or Adam’s peak in Sri Lanka is amongst the most famous places to visit that you surely cannot miss out on!

The area beside the mountain is essentially a wildlife reserve that has a range of species varying from elephants to leopards, along with many endemic species. Travelers usually hike this mountain between the months of December and May as it is hard to climb it during the other months owing to extremely heavy downpour, strong winds, as well as thick mist. This region is mostly surrounded by forested hills and there isn’t any other mountain as big as this in the vicinity!

There are plenty of hotels in Sri Pada. The prices of these vary from INR 800 (guesthouses) to INR 1500 per 2 people. There is no need to make any kind of advance bookings. Since the village draws its livelihood mostly from tourism, there will always be someone ready to offer you a good room or two.