Sri Pada or Adam's Peak

The tall conical mountain of central Sri Lanka is also known as Butterfly Mountain and Sri Pada or sacred footprint. It is basically a 1.8 m rock formation, which has many legends of almost every religion attached to it. Hindu’s say it is the footprint of Lord Shiva; Buddhists believe that it is Lord Buddha, Christians say it was St. Thomas and Muslims believe, it was Adam.

Sri Pada, revered as a holy site is visited by pilgrims of all religions. Between December to May, People trek the mountain from various routes, which take several hours. The pilgrimage, though takes place in April. On the top of the mountain they see the beautiful triangular shadow created during the sunrise. So every pilgrim would climb the peak before dawn to witness this nature’s wonder thereafter performs the religious rites.

Trails till the Mountain

Siripagama, Ratnapura

• Nearest Town: Siripagama Nearest City: Ratnapura
• Access to Trail head is from a paved road.
• Public Transport is easily available from Ratnapura to Siripagama. Trail head is just 100m from Siripagama bus stop. Account 1.5 hours from Ratnapura if driving and 2.5 hour if pubic transport is used.
• Trail Route: Colombo - Ratnapura (100km on A4) - Malwala (7.5km on B391) - Palabaddale (12km on B265) - Siripagama (2.5km)
• Total distance from Colombo is 122km
• Trail End: Sripada (Adam's peak) Total Length: 8.5 km
• Elevation Gain: 2000m (Elevation at Trail Head: 250m | Elevation at Trail End: 2250m)
• Approximate time: 8 – 12 hours

Kuruwita – Erathna trail till Sri Pada

• Trail Head: Adevikanda, Erathna (near entrance to mini-hydro power plant)
• Nearest Town: Erathna Nearest City: Kuruwita
• Route to Adevikanda, Erathna: Colombo - Awissawella - Ehaliyagoda - Kuruwita Town (80km) - Erathna (11km) - Adevikanda (3km) (approximately 94km)
• Trail End: Sri Pada (Adam's peak) Total Length: 12km
• Elevation Gain: 1850m (Elevation at Trail Head: 400m | Elevation at Trail End: 2250m)
• Approximate time: 8 – 12 hours

Hatton, Nallathanni trail to Sri Pada

• Trail Head: Nallathanni, Dalhousie Bridge
• Nearest Town: Maskeliya Nearest City: Hatton
• Access to Trail head:
• Route1: Colombo - Awissawella (58km on A4) - Ginigathhena (53km on A7) - Diyagala (5km on A7) - Norton Bridge (7km on B71) - Maussakelle (16km on B328) - Nallathanni, Dalhousie (11km on B149).
• Distance from Colombo is 150 km
• Reoute2: Hatton - Dickoya (4km on B149) - Norwood (6km on B149) - Maskeliya (8km on B149) - Maussakelle (3km on B149) - Nallathanni, Dalhousie (11km on B149).
• Distance from Hatton is 32km
• Approximate time: 5 – 7 hours

Deraniyagala, Udamaliboda (Ihala-Maliboda) Trail to Sri Pada

• Trail Head: Pandeniya River Crossing, Near Dikelikanda Village, Udamaliboda
• Nearest Town: Deraniyagala Nearest City: Awissawella
• Access to Trail head: Pandeniya River Crossing, Near Dikelikanda Village, Udamaliboda
• Colombo -Awissawella (58km on A4)- Dehiowita (8km on A7) - (Deraniyagala [13km] - Ihala-Maliboda (Tea Factory) (15km) - Pandeniya river crossing, Near Dikelikanda Village, Udamaliboda (6km) (approximately 94km)
• Roads are paved all the way up to the Ihala-Maliboda tea factory. From Ihala-Maliboda, most of the remaining 6km are paved but few unpaved sections make it only drivable with a vehicle with high ground clearance.
• Reliable public transport is available only up to Deraniyagala. From Deraniyagala to Ihala-Maliboda busses are available but reliability and frequency in not great.
• Account for 2hrs to reach the trail head from Dehiowita if driving and 4 hours if using public transport + on foot.
• Trail End: Sripada (Adam's peak) Total Length: 12km
• Elevation Gain: 1700m (Elevation at Trail Head: 555m | Elevation at Trail End: 2250m)
• Approximate time: 8 – 12 hours