Adam Hill; It is a hill located 72 kilometers east of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Hz. The hill known as the place where Adam first set foot in the world; It is considered sacred by Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and Muslims. The depression resembling a 1.5 meter long footprint on the hill is believed to be the footprint of Buddha, Shiva or Adam. Located in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka’s geographically prominent region, Adam’s Hill is visited by thousands of tourists every year. The footprint is on the rock formation located near the summit of the mountain.
The history of Sri Lanka, which is considered the pearl of the Indian Ocean, dates back to 3 thousand BC. Sri Lanka, an island country in the Indian Ocean, is mentioned in many sources as Hz. It is shown as the land where Adam descended to earth when he was expelled from heaven. There are many mosques and masjids in the country where the Muslim population also lives. Sri Lanka is also called the teardrop of India because of its tear-like shape on the map. The country, which stands out with its lush nature, resembles Paradise, so Hz. It is believed that Adam was sent to this country.
Hz. Expulsion of Adam from Paradise
Hz. Adam is the first human being and the first prophet. Allah Almighty, Hz. Adam and Hz. He created Eve from dust and breathed spirit into them. Both began to live in Paradise, but the devil tricked them into eating the forbidden fruit. Due to their disobedience to Allah’s orders, they were both expelled from Paradise and sent to the world. Hz. Adam to Sri Lanka, Hz. Eve was sent to Ethiopia.
It is believed that they later met on Arafat mountain and began to live in this region. It is rumored that they lived in Arafat with their wife and children for about 1000 years. Sri Lanka St. It is the starting point of the journey from which Adam descended and ascended to Arafat. In the Indian Ocean, St. Connecting Sri Lanka and India, where Adam is said to have crossed from Sri Lanka to India Adam Bridge takes place. Hz. Information about Adam is contained in the Qur’an and the Torah. In the Qur’an, Hz. No region is specified for the place where Adam was sent to earth.
History of Adam’s Hill
The footprint found on the 2,243-meter-high Adam’s Peak is thought to have been first discovered by King Valagambahu. The footprint, which was discovered around 100 AD, was visited by people after that date to pay their respects. Due to the fact that the region became a pilgrimage center, the forest road leading to the footprint was cleared and made accessible during the reign of King Vijayabahu in 1250. Bridges, shelters and a rest house were built on the road.
The footprint covering an area of 164 square meters was concrete pavement during the reign of King Nissankamalla, in order to protect it. Since the date the permission was discovered, all the kings of the region visited and paid their respects. Adam Hill; It was also visited by travelers such as Ibn-i Batuta and Marco Polo and transferred to written sources. A lot of information about the history of the region can be obtained from these written sources.
Buddhists, who believe that the footprint belongs to Buddha, visit the hill and light candles around the footprint and pray. While Buddhists see the light of candles as Heaven, they believe that the dark part is Hell. The footprint is also visited by Christians and St. It is thought to belong to Thomas. The fact that the footprint is considered sacred by many religions has made the region popular.
To reach the hill, it is necessary to overcome difficult mountain roads. This journey, which takes between 12 and 16 hours, is made by a staircase consisting of approximately 4000 steps. The region is very crowded in April, which is considered as the pilgrimage season. Pilgrims to the region prefer to go out late at night, as they believe that it is necessary to be on the hill at sunrise. The road to the hill is illuminated by electric lighting devices.
