Nicknamed the “staircase to heaven”, Ambuluwawa Tower is one of the best architectural marvels in Sri Lanka. Located around 3560 m above sea level, this spiral tower is a unique creation on all of the island. Since Ambuluwawa Tower is surrounded by a large number of mountain ranges, it gives a magnificent 360-degree view of the spellbinding surrounding. The top of the tower gives a feeling like walking in the sky among the clouds. Definitely, you cannot see such a wonderful place anywhere else in Sri Lanka.
Without a doubt, Ambuluwawa should be on everyone’s bucket list while visiting Kandy city. There are lots of sightseeing spots in Kandy, including the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, beautiful waterfalls, and scenic hiking and trekking trails. Among all of them, the best thing for adventure lovers is climbing to the top of Ambuluwawa Tower.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about Ambuluwawa Tower & Biodiversity Complex.
Access to Ambuluwawa Tower
Ambuluwawa Tower locates in Gampola, around 15 km from Kandy city. You can reach Gampola from Colombo by train, bus or car. If you prefer the train, you can get down at the Gampola railway station. The distance between Gampola Railway Station and Ambuluwawa Mountain is around 5 km. You can take a tuk-tuk from the station to reach the Ambuluwawa Tower.
Entrance to the Tower
The gates to the mountain open from 8.30 a.m. onward every day until 6.00 pm. The distance between the entrance and the mountain summit is around 2 km. After paying the entrance fee, you need to travel this winding road leading up the mountain.
If you are using a tuk-tuk, you can continue the journey to reach the tower. If you are using your own vehicle, it is possible to drive up to the summit. But it needs to remember this is a steep climb on a narrow road, therefore extreme caution is required while driving.
Biodiversity Complex
Ambuluwawa biodiversity complex is a varied region with over 200 different plants from 80 plant families. They include evergreen woods, flower plants, creepers, and various rare medicinal herbs. It is home to several endemic flora and fauna species. A total of 126 species, including 29 indigenous species live in this biodiversity complex. They include mammalians, avians, reptilians, amphibians, and butterfly species.
A water park, a stone park, ponds, and an herb garden are among some of the interesting spots to see in this complex. As well as, there is a multicultural center where all faiths practice their religion. It consists of a Buddhist Temple, Hindu Temple, a Church, and a Mosque.
Ambuluwawa Tower
The 48 meters tall, Ambuluwawa tower has created a unique shape of a stupa of a Buddhist Temple. The tower has a wide circular base, with the inner stairway running to the fourth floor of the tower. After the inner stairways come to an end, the external spiral stairway starts.
This spiral staircase that runs to the summit is the most wonderful feature of Ambuluwawa Tower. It is narrow and barely enough for two people to pass. The stairway keeps on getting narrower as you go up. The top of the staircase is quite narrow, merely 2 feet wide. This is an ideal place for adventure lovers, where you can get an adrenaline-filled experience. You’ll find the first few staircases aren’t too scary, but climbing the higher you will get a more nerve-wracking experience.
In case you fear height, you don’t need to get to the top to enjoy the beauty of this place. Once every 2-3 turns there are small chambers that open into the center structure. You can stop before the end and the fantastic views will be worthy as same as climbing to the top.
Hiking Ambuluwawa isn’t dangerous or risky, but those who have a fear of heights just need to be careful. It is a totally adventurous, thrilling experience. If you are an adventure lover who is comfortable with heights, Ambuluwawa Tower is an awesome place you shouldn’t miss in Sri Lanka.
View from the Tower
Although climbing to the top of the tower is challenging, it gives you the most astonishing 360 degrees of views of the surroundings. The sweeping view over the valley is unbelievable. The panoramic vista of the mist-covered lush green mountains is both appealing and breathtaking. The Mahaweli River and its surrounding paddy fields add to the natural beauty of the area.
Since the tower is surrounded by mountain ranges, there is a cool mountain breeze that blows throughout the region. In the middle of tranquility, it will surely provide a lovely feeling and spectacular view of the peaceful environment.
If you travel on a clear day, you will be surprised to see the number of mountains visible from the tower. It is surrounded by mountain ranges in all four directions. They include the Knuckles Mountain Range from the North, Adam’s Peak from the South, Pidurutalagala from the East, and Bible Rock from the West. Aside from these mountains, Hanthana, Hunnasigiri, Nelligala, Alagalla, and Kadugannawa Mountain ranges are visible from here.
Important tips for you
Depending on the weather conditions, there will be strong winds. Sometimes, the wind becomes quite stronger. When high winds are blowing, it can be scary and freak out climbers. Therefore, climbing up to the top of Ambuluwawa Tower is definitely not for the faint of heart. Most importantly, the elderly and kids are not recommended to climb to the top of it.
This fairy-tale-looking tower is one of the most famous Instagram spots in the country. Therefore, remember to take a selfie stick and grab those iconic pictures and videos of climbing the tower in the sky. These are some of the most sought-after pictures you need to get in Sri Lanka. On the other hand, extreme caution is required while taking selfies and photographs. Also, you should avoid leaning on the railing to take photos, which is quite dangerous.
If you go there in the afternoon, you’ll be able to catch the glimpse of wonderful sunset among the mountains. Surely, this is a lovely experience you can get in Ambuluwawa Tower.
To sum up, there is no other summit like Ambuluwawa that surrounds by many magnificent mountain ranges in Sri Lanka. It offers something for everyone, a multicultural sanctuary, a biodiversity complex, and a staircase to heaven for adventure lovers. Without a doubt, the panoramic views from the tower will leave you breathless. The eternal silence with the spectacular scenic beauty of Ambuluwawa Tower will remain in your heart forever!
Text by Magnificent Sri Lanka. Images from Wikimedia Commons, Facebook, and Twitter. All copyrights are reserved by original authors.
