Location: This tower is located in the heart of the city of Colombo, Srilanka on the waterfront of Beira lake where you can easily reach by road, 33kms away from the Colombo international airport.
Entry fee: There will be an entry fee for the local people and tourists which is approximately 20 US dollars for a tourist, however a concession may be granted to students and families.
Timings: The tower is open for 24 hours throughout the year for the visitors.
History of Colombo Lotus Tower
Back in 2012, Sri Lanka and China signed the agreement under the controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to build the tallest tower in South Asia. China National Electronics Import and Export Corporation (CEIEC) is the major contractor of the tower. Thus, the construction of this tower started on January 20, 2012, and was opened to the public on 16th September 2019 by Maithripala Sirisena, the President of Sri Lanka. The construction of the tower has not been completed till now, but some parts of the tower have been made accessible to the tourists. This tower is one of the biggest construction efforts as of now. Initially, it was supposed to be built in Peliyagoda (a suburb in the city of Colombo, in the Western Province of Sri Lanka) but later the location was changed by the government.
It finally stands in the heart of the city of Colombo on the waterfront of the Beira Lake. The construction of this tower cost around 104.3 million dollars which are funded by EXIM Bank of the People's Republic of China, which will be paid back by the Government of Sri Lanka through the revenue earned by renting out the space of the tower. The layout of the tower is inspired by the lotus flower which symbolizes purity in Sri Lanka. It also symbolizes the flourishing development of the country.the tower will function as a digital TV tower, communication services and other leisure facilities such as hotels, restaurants, museums, shopping malls and much more, accommodating thousands of tourists.
Interesting Facts about Colombo Lotus Tower
1. The height of this tower is 356 meters and it is the tallest tower in South Asia, 11th tallest tower in Asia and 19th tallest tower in the world.
2. It is the tallest skyscraper in Sri Lanka and thus it can be seen from a distance as far as 10kms from the main site.
3. The construction of the tower was started in 2012 and it took seven years for the construction to complete, after which it was made open by the President of Sri Lanka to the public in September 2019.
4. The design of this tower is inspired by the lotus flower(which means purity in Sri Lanka) and consists of 13 floors and 8 elevators and 4 entrances.
5. It functions as a transmission tower for TV and radio. Other than this, it serves various leisure facilities such as shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, recreational centres and much more.
6. At the top, there is a revolving restaurant that completes a single revolution in 90 minutes where you can enjoy the scenic view of the city. Other facilities such as suites will be provided for the guests to stay.
7. The petals of the flowers are made of glass while the framework is of steel, which illuminates with colour-changing LED lights. The tower is also illuminated with floodlights with beautifully decorated interiors.
Tips for Visiting Colombo Lotus Tower
To explore the Colombo Lotus Tower with total enjoyment, you should know the following tips.
1. The best way to reach the Lotus Tower from Colombo International airport is through road preferably by a car which takes approximately one hour to reach.
2. It is accessible throughout the day, the whole year for the tourists to explore and enjoy its beauty.
3. This tower is symbolic and an emblem of pride which signifies the flourishing development of the country.
4. The observation deck on the 7th floor is a perfect place to click pictures full of memories.
5. It also hosts various restaurants and hotels to satiate your hunger and rest after a tiring tour of the magnificent structure.
