SRI PAADAYA

Sri Pada (also Adam's peak; Sinhalese Samanalakanda - සමනළ කන්ද "butterfly mountain"), is a 2,243 metres (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central Sri Lanka. It is well known for the Sri Pada "sacred footprint", a 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit, in Buddhist tradition it is held to be the footprint of the Buddha, in Hindu tradition that of Shiva and in Muslim and Christian tradition that of Adam

The mountain is located in the southern reaches of the Central Highlands, in the Ratnapura district of the Sabaragamuwa Province - lying about 40 km northeast of the city of Ratnapura. The surrounding region is largely forested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby. The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve housing many species varying from elephants to leopards, and including many endemic species.

Access to the mountain is possible by 6 trails (Ratnapura-Palabaddala, Hatton-Nallathanni, Kuruwita-Erathna, Murraywatte, Mookuwatte & Malimboda). Out of these the Nallathanni & Palabaddala routes are the most popular. Kuruwita-Erathna road is somewhat popular as well. The other 3 roads are almost obscure. It joins the Palabaddala road midway through the ascent. Buses connect the final nodes of Nallanthanni to Hatton, Palabaddala to Ratnapura & Erathna to Kuruwita. Thereafter it's a difficult journey through the forest on foot. Most of the pilgrims use Hatton route as the journey on foot can be reduced by more than five kilometers even though the slope of this route is much greater than other routes.

My Memories in Sri Padaya

Just before 2 weeks to the journey my cousin asked me if i would like to join them to go the sree pada.As i had never visited the place and I really wanted to go there I did not hesitate to say yes.So as we planned before the day of our trip I went to my aunt's home in Kadugannawa.Next morning we took a train from the Kadugannawa station to Hatton.It was about a 4 hours train journey.After getting down at the Hatton railway station we ate or lunch before we set off to Nallathanniya.There is a bus service right fromm the railway station to Nallathanniya where we have to start the trek to the peak of the mountain.It was a cold weather there when we arrived at Nallathanniya and the Sri Pada mountain was fully covered with clouds so we were unable to see it until we get to the top.There are shops in Nallathanniya that you can buy necessary things for the trek.

Sama Chaithya

Makara Thorana

You will find many shops that have cloths for a cold weather.There I bought a jersey.As you walk on the first thing you meet is the "Makara Thorana", an entrance made with an ancient architecture. On the way to the sri pada ,another place you will meet is the "sama chaithya", a Burmese temple.We decided to rest for a while at saama chaithya drinking some coffee with some refreshments. After the Sama Chaithya the next important place you meet is Seetha Gangula.Its a small waterfall.There is a long held ritual that everybody bath at the seetha gangula to purify themselves before they get to the top of the mountain.The experience of having a bath there, is extremely fantastic.I must say I had never  bathed that much cold water before.At seetha gangula I saw a Japanese tourist sitting.So I talked with him but he could not speak english well.But he was a  nice gentleman and I took a picture with him