Sri Pada - Scared Mountain

Sri Pada is a mountain located in southern part of the hill county of Sri Lanka, 122 kilometers away from Colombo and height of 2243 meters above sea level.  Mountain comprises to two district, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya. There are no other mountains nearby. Area of this mountain nominated as wildlife reserves.  Environment of the mountain is cool and rainy.  Four main rivers starts in this mountain. Those are Mahaveli river (longest river), Kalu ganga river, Walave river, Kalani river. This place famous among Buddhist around the word and other religious groups also visit and worship this place.

   

This place has long history. Buddhists believe that, on the third visit of Buddha to Sri Lanka, Buddha left his footprint on the rock at the top of the mountain. So this place became a place of worship among Buddhists.  But after the hundred years ago other religious groups believes according to their own belief, so they thought that footprint left by their prophet.  Hindu peoples believe that footprint as the footprint of Sriva god, and Muslim peoples believe that it as footprint of Adams.   

Every Buddhists of Sri Lanka tries to worship the sacred Footprint of the Buddha at least one time in his/her life time. The climbing season (worshiping season) is December to May. Other months are not suitable, because many number wild animals walk in free in those times. So Climbing in out of season may be dangerous.   Climbing is really tired, but peoples do it in devout mind. Several customs can be seen among devotees. First one is They song special kind of poems called “ thunsarane” wrote about characterizes of Buddha. Those poems are comes with traditionally. If someone worships in the first times, he/she have to fulfill several requirements.  

There are three roads to climb the mountain. First one is across the Ratnapura. This road is a long root compared with other road. If, someone climb in this road he/she has to walk more than 12 miles.  It is possible to travel via vehicle up to Siripagama village and onwards travelling only by walk. Second root for climbing Sri Pada is kuruvita road. This road also long as ratnapura road. Climbing is start from Erathna Vilage. This road meets ratnapura road in a place called Haramitipana. Third root is via Haton town and it is the most famous and easier road to climb and worship the Shi Pada. Most of the area on the road is covered by steps.

Most peoples like to climb mountain in night even colder environment in order to watch the sun rise on the tomorrow morning. This occasion is very attractive and lot of peoples waits to watch it.  Peoples believe that god called “Sumana Saman” is tutelary to this mountain. So peoples who climb and worship this place anticipate the protection of this god.