If there was one really EARLY morning on this trip – it must have been today.

On the agenda today we had the climb up Adam’s Peak. The hike typically starts around 02:30am in the small village of Dalhousie – it covers a distance of around 7km and is upstairs all the way (around 5200 steps – or an elevation gain of about 1000m). With a 02:30am start most people (at least outside the main pilgrimage season) make it to the summit by around 05:30 – or just in time for dawn and the sunrise.

On top of the mountain is a shrine, which houses the footprint of Buddha on his way to paradise (other versions link the footprint to St.Thomas, the early apostle of India – or even to Lord Shiva). During the pilgrimage season (first full moon in December up until May) the shrine is opened after sunrise – and people allowed to pass by.

Only five of the group (of 16 folks in total) were up for the hike (or the early rise); we left our hotel at 01:15am to make the drive over to Dalhousie. Here our mountain guide was already expecting us; we got started at 02:45 – – and from here it was uphill in the dark. A few tea houses were open on the way; we got to the last one – just ten minutes away from the summit – at around 05:00 and – after a break – made it to the summit around 05:30 – so well in time for a 06:00 sunrise.

After sunrise we did proceed to the shrine at the summit (the area is fenced of and only opens after sunrise); while the shrine itself was not open, we could at least pass by the door.

Now it was downstairs … down all those 5200 steps. With daylight now taking over, the trail and its steepness became obvious – as well as great views at literally every corner.

The first of us got back to the starting point and the bus at around 09:00 (with the rest of the group following within half an hour) – hurting knees and a sense of achievement included 😉

In retrospect – this has been a very, very, early morning and a fairly harsh workout (with the walk down much worse than up) – – but it was certainly worth it … certainly a Sri Lanka highlight.