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Revision as of 15:13, 12 April 2005
| Adam's Peak | |
|---|---|
| Elevation: | 2,243 m (7,360 feet) |
| Latitude: | 6° 82′ 0″ N |
| Longitude: | 80° 3′ 0″ W |
| Location: | Sabaragamuwa (Sri Lanka) |
Adam's Peak (Sinhala Sri Pada, Tamil Sivanolipatha Malai, Arabic Al-Rohun) is a 2,243 metre (7,360 feet) tall conical mountain in modern-day Sri Lanka, revered as a holy site by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians.
Hindu pilgrims walk up the mountain, following a variety of routes up thousands of steps. The journey takes several hours at least. The peak pilgrimage season is in April, and the goal is to be on top of the mountain at sunrise, when the distinctive shape of the mountain casts a triangular shadow on the surrounding plain and can be seen to move quickly downward as the sun rises.
On top of the mountain is a rough impression in the rock like that of an enormous -- nearly two metre -- footprint. Muslim legend states that it is the footprint of Adam, who was placed in Sri Lanka as the next best thing to the Garden of Eden; from this comes the name Adam's Peak. Other candidates in other legends for making the print are Buddha, the Hindu god Shiva, and Saint Thomas. The Buddhist legend says that the (logically existing) other footprint is in a city about 150 kilometres distant, or possibly at Phra Sat in Thailand.
A shrine to Saman, a Buddhist deity charged with protecting the mountain top, can be found near the footprint. Pilgrims who complete the climb sometimes ring a small bell near the temple - once for each climb completed.
This mountain played a role in Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction novel The Fountains of Paradise.