Lying to the south-west of Sri Lanka, in the heart of the central highlands, one mountain stands well above the rest: Adam's Peak. A divine being is said to have walked on its summit, leaving an indelible mark. The most important pilgrimage site in the country, its ascent is as spectacular as it is spiritual. 

A land of legends

Adam's Peak stands at an altitude of 2,243 metres in the Central Massif of Sri Lanka. The view of the mist-covered mountains which awaits at the summit is simply mesmerising, but this is not the reason for its fame. Once at the peak, engraved in the rock, a huge footprint has been talked about for centuries, giving rise to many legends...

For Buddhists, it was Buddha who left his trace on his third visit to Sri Lanka. Hindus see it as the foot of Shiva. Finally, Muslims believe that this is where Adam took his first step on earth after being expelled from paradise. He would have stayed on one leg to wash away his sins, leaving his mark on the top of Adam's Peak. The Portuguese settlers later tried to Christianise this myth by claiming that it is the trace of Saint Thomas. Today, pilgrims of all these faiths meet at the summit of Adam's Peak to pray and meditate in what can be described as a unique example of tolerance in the world. 

Meeting at dawn at the summit of Adam's Peak

The climb to the top of Adam's Peak is not particularly technical, but it does require a certain amount of physical fitness. The alarm clock rings in the middle of the night, chasing away foggy dreams in the blink of an eye. After a short hour's walk by torchlight to the side of the mountain, the hikers find themselves facing a spiralling staircase of 5,500 steps, which become steeper and more irregular as they approach the top. The sporty effort means that the cold gusts of wind that accompany the climb are not felt, and there are small stalls selling food along the path.

It is only after seven kilometres and 1,200 metres of ascent (between two and four hours depending on your physical condition) that the summit of Adam's Peak finally appears. The darkness of the night gradually clears as the sun crosses the horizon, revealing an almost unreal panorama where mountains, forests, lakes and fog mingle. To the west, the perfectly triangular shadow of Adam's Peak stretches tirelessly over the Sri Lankan landmass..

When the full moon comes in December...

Full moons are celebrated as a public holiday in Sri Lanka: they are called "Poya days" and each one corresponds to a key event in Buddhism. Every month, vast celebrations are organised for the occasion. But since the summit of Adam's Peak is lost in the mist during the rainy season, pilgrims look forward to the return of clement weather to climb their sacred mountain. Poya day in December rings in the start of festivities and visitors flock to Adam's Peak until the full moon in May, Vesak Poya.

Vesak Poya is one of the most important festivals in the country, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha. On this day, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans young and old alike, all flock to Adam's Peak to pay their respects. Songs, flutes and drums accompany the entire climb, while the bell rings every time someone reaches the top. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowds, you can feel the contagious faith and solidarity of the pilgrims, turning the journey into a genuine human experience. But a word of caution, under these conditions, it can take up to 11 hours to climb to the top!