SRIPADAYA 

 

Siri pada is a beautiful mountain located between Ratnapura district(Sabaragamuwa Province) and Nuwara Eliya (Central Province).it also called ‘Samanala Kanda’, ‘ Adam’s peak’. The top of the mountain has a footprint of Lode Buddha.so Siri pada is the most sacred place of Sri Lankan Buddhists. Siri pada mountant can access in 6 different Routes. Hatton Nallathanni Road, Rathnapura Palabaddara, Kuruwita Erathna, Maliboda,Mukkuwaththa,Rajamale.

   

 

Historical value  

According to Sri Lanka’s great chronicle, Mahawamsa, Buddha visited Sri Lanka three times. The last time he traveled from Kelaniya to Sri Pada, and then to Digavaphi thus consisted in the Solosmasthana of Sri Lanka. It is said that Buddha left his footprint on the rock at the peak of the mountain at the invitation of the Deity Saman.

The soles of the Buddha’s feet are said to be flat with all the toes of equal length. On each sole, there are one hundred and eight auspicious marks (mangala­ lakkhana), with the wheel (chakra) as the principal mark at the center while around it are grouped figures of animals, inhabitants of various worlds, and other kinds of symbols.

Buddhists knew that this mysterious footprint had been made by the Buddha long before (as far as the 1st century BC) any other religion was introduced to the country. But in succeeding centuries other faiths, Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity were to lay claim to it. Muslims believe the footprint to be that of Adam (hence the name Adam’s Peak); Christians, that of St. Thomas, the disciple Jesus; and Hindus, that of the god Siva. The Tamil name of the rock Civan-oli-pata (the mountain path of Siva’s light) or Svargarohanam

 

Sripada season

The Sri Pada season starts from the full moon of December and ends on the full moon of April. Generally, it takes about five to six hours to climb to the top. During this season many shops pop up on the way to the mountain top offering all sorts of food and refreshments. There are first aid centers manned by volunteers on the way. Most people climb by night to reach the mountain top to watch the “Ira Sevaya”, the sunrise over the sea. But this time can be quite crowded, especially during the weekend and towards the end of the season. It’s not rare were you have to spend 5-10 minutes standing on a single step until the crowd moves on. The top of the mountain is quite windy and chilly.