| Adam's Peak is one of the most recognisable places | | | | This is because Ceylon was believed to the place on |
| in Sri Lanka, yet many people are not aware of the | | | | earth that most resembled heaven, with Adam's |
| island's famous mountain until they visit it for | | | | Peak being the closest spot on earth to heaven. |
| themselves on their Sri Lanka holidays. | | | | On your Sri Lanka holidays you may want to take a |
| The mountain is held in sacrosanct by followers of | | | | boat trip around the peak as the mountain is most |
| four religions: Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims. | | | | impressive when viewed from the sea. Marco Polo |
| However, long before any of these religions | | | | was among one of the explorers who visited. Early |
| appeared on the island, the mountain was worshipped | | | | Arab seafarers who spotted the peak, described it |
| by the aboriginal inhabitants of the island, the Veddas. | | | | as the largest mountain in the world. However, the |
| They named the peak Samanala Kanda after one of | | | | peak is not even the largest in Sri Lanka. |
| the island's four deities. Hindus also have a different | | | | If you want to hike around the island, then the best |
| name for the peak and call it Sivan Adi Padham. They | | | | time to visit is from December to May. This time is |
| believe that the giant footprint left on the peak is | | | | popular with pilgrims and gets busiest in the winter |
| Shiva's and was left on the mountain during his | | | | months of January and February. The trek takes |
| creation dance when he created the world. | | | | about four hours and although it is possible to climb |
| The large footprint is five foot seven inches by two | | | | Adam's Peak from June to November, mist and rain |
| foot six inches wide, but Buddhists believe that the | | | | make the climb much less appealing. When climbing |
| original footprint is even larger and was left by the | | | | the mountain on your Sri Lanka holidays you will spot |
| Buddha on his third and final visit to Sri Lanka. If you | | | | hundreds of beautifully coloured butterflies on your |
| are a follower of the Christian religion, then on your | | | | climb, which have earnt Adam's Peak its nickname, |
| Sri Lanka holidays, you'll most probably hear the story | | | | Samanalakande or butterfly mountain. Once you've |
| of St. Thomas, who brought Christianity to the island. | | | | reached the top, you will notice a small Buddhist |
| However, the mountain gets that name "Adam" from | | | | temple and the shrine of the strange footprint. It is |
| the Islamic belief that he stood for a thousand years | | | | customary to make offerings here and small coils of |
| on one foot as penance. The Islamic tradition tells | | | | silver are offered by those wanting to recover from |
| how, when Adam was expelled from heaven, God | | | | sickness. Rainwater that falls in the footprint is also |
| put him on the peak to make the shock less terrible. | | | | said to have special healing properties. |