Nallathanniya - Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2.243 m)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.52 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,215 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Easy
- Elevation loss
- 3,215 ft
- Max elevation
- 7,348 ft
- TrailRank
-
52
4.3
- Min elevation
- 4,073 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 5 hours 32 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1039
- Uploaded
- September 3, 2019
- Recorded
- August 2019
near Nallatanniya, Central (Sri Lanka)
Viewed 1036 times, downloaded 35 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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If there is any climb worth mentioning in Sri Lanka, it is the one that will take us to the summit of Sri Pada (2,243 m), better known internationally as Adam's Peak. Its little sister (Little Adam's Peak), located in Ella, is more popular, but Sri Pada will offer us all the incentives that a good mountaineer needs. The most typical thing is to see the sunrise from the top of Sri Pada, leaving at dawn to overcome the thousands of steps that separate us, so here we go, at night!
START:
The worst thing about ascending Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) is that we must reach the town of Nallathanniya along a road in poor condition, coming from Nuwara Eliya. Despite this trip, summiting Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) makes up for everything. After a trip of several hours to Nallathanniya, we had a wonderful dinner at our accommodation, a few hours of rest and arrived at 2:00 a.m., ready to see the sunrise from the summit.
DESCRIPTION:
We got up, still in the dark, and started the march after 2:30 a.m., the recommended departure time. In Nallathanniya, the timid streetlights illuminated the main street that we must follow, heading west, to begin the true path. Headlamps on, we are leaving the town behind.
To take the path to Sri Pada (Adam's Peak), we must cross a bridge and follow a first detour. Next, another small bridge and a waterfall, which we barely see but we do hear. The water runs and it's nice!
We find ourselves at the end of Nallathanniya, a place where a man tells us where to continue the route... Error, it is nothing more than a detour to reach a temple, make us sign a guest book and donate a sum of money. If we continued straight, ignoring the man's instructions, we would arrive at the same point. No problem, a small donation and we continue on our way.
We followed the route, always with the headlights on and at night. We are not the only ones, since it is a well-known pilgrimage. We are in low season, and thank goodness because in high season it must be a pilgrimage. The path advances without technical difficulties and with a slight ascent, crossing the valley that forms a beautiful river.
We continue walking at a good pace and cross some more bridges. In the area, many waterfalls that we only hear. On the way back, during the day, we will see them!
We have already been on the route for two and a half kilometers and we arrive near another temple, very beautiful. We continue!
The road continues to offer us several incentives that we will see better on our return. We continue listening to waterfalls and waterfalls!
After three and a half kilometers, we reach the end of the section that runs through the valley, where we must cross a bridge over a river that leaves us with beautiful waterfalls in the area! From here, the route changes radically!
The comfortable path with a slight ascent gives way to endless rock steps. The gap that we are overcoming is much more demanding and requires extra effort on our part. We pass several hikers, some with a local guide. Others overtake us, they go faster!
We continue climbing steps and we get fully into the fog. A cloudy and much more humid environment means that we must dress warmly and protect ourselves from humidity. One stop or another to rest your legs and experience some incredible views!
As we go up, the steps become higher and more demanding, although we always advance without problems. It's still early, we are climbing at a good pace and we sense that we will have a lot of time until dawn.
The last part of the climb, also like a staircase, separates the way there and back by a metal railing, probably due to the large influx of people who access the summit in high season. The cloud cover is installed at the summit and we cannot see beyond a few meters...
Finally, after more than 5 kilometers of route and 1,000 meters of elevation gain overcome, we arrived at Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m). In the vicinity of the highest part we find a temple and a kind of closed viewpoint, a result of the low season in which we find ourselves. Still, a man offers us tea at a good price that we do not hesitate to accept. We arrived an hour early, so we have to wait. Lots of fog, some wind and terrible humidity. Cold at the summit, so you have to dress warmly and warm up with tea, ideal in these cases! The views are nil, although we spent a good time with the rest of our summit companions, about 20 or 25 people. Some photos and good memories of the summit, despite not seeing anything or being able to enjoy the sunrise.
Little by little it is getting daylight, although it is barely noticeable. An intense fog surrounds us, so we must return without the long-awaited prize... A shame because the views from here have to be sublime!
We took the same way back, going down the hundreds of steps and completing the path that runs through the valley, heading to Nallathanniya. Despite taking the same route, we see it tremendously different. On the way there it was night and now it is day, and furthermore, we are losing altitude and the fog is ending, which means that we gain some incredible views in the highest areas of the route, even going down steps.
Once we have completed the descent along the steps, we reach the level of the river, where the waterfalls that we heard before begin to surprise us. Spectacular waterfalls, many several meters high. It is a delight to look at both sides of the valley!
After enjoying the way back, we reached the vicinity of Nallathanniya, where a look back allows us to see the summit of Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)! The fog has given us a break, so we took the opportunity to take some photos. What a pity not to be up at the moment!
Finally, already in Nallathanniya, we walk along its main street to our accommodation, where we conclude the route. A hot shower and a perfect breakfast await us!
CONCLUSION:
The ascent to Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m) is one of those routes worth completing in Sri Lanka. A very comfortable route, easy to follow and without difficulties, but not exempt from some physical effort. 1,000 meters of elevation gain climbing steps, but amazing views! We didn't have that luck at the summit, as there was a lot of cloud cover, but we were able to enjoy a magical environment. We leave happy and with the feeling that the climb to Sri Pada was worth it! Highly recommended!
MORE INFORMATION:
Nallathanniya - Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m)
Route Index
Route Map
Summits Map
Rubén Wanderlust (www.rubenwanderlust.com)
START:
The worst thing about ascending Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) is that we must reach the town of Nallathanniya along a road in poor condition, coming from Nuwara Eliya. Despite this trip, summiting Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) makes up for everything. After a trip of several hours to Nallathanniya, we had a wonderful dinner at our accommodation, a few hours of rest and arrived at 2:00 a.m., ready to see the sunrise from the summit.
DESCRIPTION:
We got up, still in the dark, and started the march after 2:30 a.m., the recommended departure time. In Nallathanniya, the timid streetlights illuminated the main street that we must follow, heading west, to begin the true path. Headlamps on, we are leaving the town behind.
To take the path to Sri Pada (Adam's Peak), we must cross a bridge and follow a first detour. Next, another small bridge and a waterfall, which we barely see but we do hear. The water runs and it's nice!
We find ourselves at the end of Nallathanniya, a place where a man tells us where to continue the route... Error, it is nothing more than a detour to reach a temple, make us sign a guest book and donate a sum of money. If we continued straight, ignoring the man's instructions, we would arrive at the same point. No problem, a small donation and we continue on our way.
We followed the route, always with the headlights on and at night. We are not the only ones, since it is a well-known pilgrimage. We are in low season, and thank goodness because in high season it must be a pilgrimage. The path advances without technical difficulties and with a slight ascent, crossing the valley that forms a beautiful river.
We continue walking at a good pace and cross some more bridges. In the area, many waterfalls that we only hear. On the way back, during the day, we will see them!
We have already been on the route for two and a half kilometers and we arrive near another temple, very beautiful. We continue!
The road continues to offer us several incentives that we will see better on our return. We continue listening to waterfalls and waterfalls!
After three and a half kilometers, we reach the end of the section that runs through the valley, where we must cross a bridge over a river that leaves us with beautiful waterfalls in the area! From here, the route changes radically!
The comfortable path with a slight ascent gives way to endless rock steps. The gap that we are overcoming is much more demanding and requires extra effort on our part. We pass several hikers, some with a local guide. Others overtake us, they go faster!
We continue climbing steps and we get fully into the fog. A cloudy and much more humid environment means that we must dress warmly and protect ourselves from humidity. One stop or another to rest your legs and experience some incredible views!
As we go up, the steps become higher and more demanding, although we always advance without problems. It's still early, we are climbing at a good pace and we sense that we will have a lot of time until dawn.
The last part of the climb, also like a staircase, separates the way there and back by a metal railing, probably due to the large influx of people who access the summit in high season. The cloud cover is installed at the summit and we cannot see beyond a few meters...
Finally, after more than 5 kilometers of route and 1,000 meters of elevation gain overcome, we arrived at Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m). In the vicinity of the highest part we find a temple and a kind of closed viewpoint, a result of the low season in which we find ourselves. Still, a man offers us tea at a good price that we do not hesitate to accept. We arrived an hour early, so we have to wait. Lots of fog, some wind and terrible humidity. Cold at the summit, so you have to dress warmly and warm up with tea, ideal in these cases! The views are nil, although we spent a good time with the rest of our summit companions, about 20 or 25 people. Some photos and good memories of the summit, despite not seeing anything or being able to enjoy the sunrise.
Little by little it is getting daylight, although it is barely noticeable. An intense fog surrounds us, so we must return without the long-awaited prize... A shame because the views from here have to be sublime!
We took the same way back, going down the hundreds of steps and completing the path that runs through the valley, heading to Nallathanniya. Despite taking the same route, we see it tremendously different. On the way there it was night and now it is day, and furthermore, we are losing altitude and the fog is ending, which means that we gain some incredible views in the highest areas of the route, even going down steps.
Once we have completed the descent along the steps, we reach the level of the river, where the waterfalls that we heard before begin to surprise us. Spectacular waterfalls, many several meters high. It is a delight to look at both sides of the valley!
After enjoying the way back, we reached the vicinity of Nallathanniya, where a look back allows us to see the summit of Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)! The fog has given us a break, so we took the opportunity to take some photos. What a pity not to be up at the moment!
Finally, already in Nallathanniya, we walk along its main street to our accommodation, where we conclude the route. A hot shower and a perfect breakfast await us!
CONCLUSION:
The ascent to Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m) is one of those routes worth completing in Sri Lanka. A very comfortable route, easy to follow and without difficulties, but not exempt from some physical effort. 1,000 meters of elevation gain climbing steps, but amazing views! We didn't have that luck at the summit, as there was a lot of cloud cover, but we were able to enjoy a magical environment. We leave happy and with the feeling that the climb to Sri Pada was worth it! Highly recommended!
MORE INFORMATION:
Nallathanniya - Sri Pada (Adam's Peak) (2,243 m)
Route Index
Route Map
Summits Map
Rubén Wanderlust (www.rubenwanderlust.com)
Waypoints
Waypoint
4,158 ft
Bridge
Intersection
Waterfall
Religious site
Summit
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Gran ruta, como consejo un pequeño descanso antes de los últimos 500 metros de ascenso, los más difíciles, no estaría mal.
Fernandohg, muchas gracias por tu aportación y valoración! Saludos!