A holy pilgrimage site, Adams Peak (or Sri Pada) in Sri Lanka is a sacred mountain. Atop this mountain is a small temple housing what many people believe to be the footprint of Buddha.

I saved the 5200 stair trek up the mountain for my last day in the country. Getting up in the darkness of the middle of the night, the slow, heart-pumping effort was worth it to see the sun rise over Sri Lanka.

For a short time, the sun pierces the top of the temple, creating this pyramid-like shadow across the cloud-covered forest and land below. I thought the prayer flags added a special element to the meaning of the photo.