Central Province
Ambuluwawa Tower stands on a hilltop near Gampola, about 1–1.5 hours from Kandy. Its spiral staircase winds around the outside of the tower to 360-degree views over the hills. The site is a multi-religious complex, with places of worship for several faiths. The top section is very narrow and exposed, so it's not for anyone afraid of heights.
A road climbs to the summit complex, where the white spiral tower rises above the trees. The lower stairs are easy. The upper section narrows sharply, with low railings. Many visitors stop part of the way up.
A day from Kandy with the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, or on the scenic drive towards Nuwara Eliya.
Check current details before travelling: prices, opening hours, access and seasonal conditions change.
The top section is narrow and exposed. Many visitors stop part-way. Only go as far as you feel comfortable.
About 1–1.5 hours by car.
Modest clothes, because it's a religious complex, and shoes with good grip.
A clear morning or late afternoon, not in rain or wind.
Kandy was the capital of the last Sri Lankan kingdom and is still the island's cultural heart. The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, beside a lake ringed by green hills, makes the city a sacred site for Buddhists and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Peradeniya, just outside Kandy, are Sri Lanka's best-known botanical gardens. Highlights include the orchid house, grand palm avenues, a giant Java fig tree and riverside lawns. Allow 1.5–3 hours, and go in the morning when it's cooler.
Nuwara Eliya is a highland town surrounded by some of Sri Lanka's most famous tea estates. Founded as a cool retreat in the colonial era, it still has a mock-Tudor post office, a racecourse, a golf course and old planters' bungalows.
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