Attraction
Gangaramaya Temple
A late 19th-century Buddhist temple near Beira Lake that mixes Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian and Chinese styles and keeps a crowded museum of donated treasures.
Colombo Lotus Tower
A 351.5-metre tower shaped like a lotus bud on the edge of Beira Lake, opened to the public in 2022 with an observation gallery and restaurants.
At a glance
- Type
- Observation tower
- Area
- Colombo 1, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Official site
- colombolotustower.lk
Good to know
- Observation gallery
- Restaurants
- Telecommunications museum
Why we recommend it
The Lotus Tower changed Colombo's skyline when it was completed in 2019, and it opened to the public in September 2022. Rising 351.5 metres to the tip of its antenna spire, it stands on the Beira Lake waterfront beside D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha in Colombo 1. The design draws on the lotus flower, a symbol of purity in Sri Lankan culture: the base is modelled on a lotus throne and the upper section on a bud, and RGB lighting lets the colour of the tower change at night.
The tower is also a working broadcasting mast for television, radio and telecom providers, but for visitors the main attraction is the view. An observation gallery sits on the seventh floor of the flower section, giving a wide panorama over the lake, the port and the coastline. The building has 13 floors in total, six in the podium and seven in the flower, served by eight lifts and four entrances, with a telecommunications museum and a restaurant on the ground floor, a museum and exhibition halls above, conference halls seating more than 500 people, a 1,000-seat auditorium that doubles as a ballroom, and a floor given over to restaurants, supermarkets and food courts.
Because the observation level is the reason most people go, timing matters. A visit late in the afternoon lets you see the city in daylight and then watch the tower's own lights and the city come on after dark. The official website is the place to check current ticket types and opening hours, and school groups are asked to book in advance with the management company.
The tower is easy to spot from almost anywhere in central Colombo, which also makes it a useful landmark when you are finding your way around. Allow around an hour to an hour and a half for the trip up, the views and a drink or snack.
Gangaramaya Temple and the Seema Malakaya pavilion are on the other side of Beira Lake, so the tower combines well with a temple visit. The Pettah markets and the Fort district are a short tuk-tuk ride to the north-west, and Galle Face Green is close enough for an evening walk afterwards.
Colombo Lotus Tower FAQs
How tall is the Lotus Tower?
It is 351.5 metres to the tip of the antenna spire.
When did it open to visitors?
It was completed in 2019 and opened to the public on 16 September 2022.
Where is the Lotus Tower?
On the Beira Lake waterfront beside D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha in Colombo 1.
What is there to do inside?
Visit the observation gallery on the seventh floor of the flower section, the telecommunications museum and the restaurants and food outlets.
Why is it shaped like a lotus?
The lotus symbolises purity in Sri Lankan culture. The base represents a lotus throne and the top a lotus bud.
When is the best time to go?
Late afternoon, so you see the city by day and then lit up after dark.
Where can I check tickets and hours?
On the official website, colombolotustower.lk.
What is nearby?
Gangaramaya Temple, the Seema Malakaya, Pettah and Galle Face Green.