Ambuluwawa Tower and Biodiversity Complex

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(37 votes, average: 4.46 out of 5)

Ambuluwawa is a well-known tourist location in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, close to the town of Gampola, which was the capital of the kingdom built by the renowned Sinhalese King Buvanekabahu IV (1341–1357 AD). It is well known for its scenic beauty, biodiversity, and spiritual significance. Ambuluwawa is a hill that is 590 meters (1965 feet) away from Gampola town and rises to a height of 1,112 meters (3650 feet), providing breathtaking vistas of the surroundings.

One of the key attractions of Ambuluwawa is the Ambuluwawa Tower, also known as the Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex. The site is a multi-religious center that represents various religions practiced in Sri Lanka, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Temples of each religious faith is built at the top of the mountain and visitors can learn about the cultural and religious diversity of Sri Lanka.

In addition to the religious aspects, Ambuluwawa is also famous for its rich biodiversity. The hill is covered with lush greenery, including a variety of trees, plants, and flowers. It serves as a habitat for numerous bird species and other wildlife.

Visitors to Ambuluwawa can enjoy hiking and nature walks along well-maintained paths. The cool climate and serene environment make it a perfect spot for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty. The panoramic views from the top of the hill are particularly stunning, especially during sunrise and sunset.

However, the most exciting feature is the Ambuluwawa Stupa at the top. The stupa is built on a tall hollow cylinder. A staircase spirals around the inside of the cylinder and takes the traveler to the outside base of the dome of the stupa.

The stupa is a modest but tall building. Another staircase that winds around the dome and ascends to the stupa’s topmost point is extremely fascinating. As they ascend, the stairs get narrower, making it impossible for two persons to pass one another. There are a few hallows at various levels that one may cram into to let another pass through in order to prevent such situations.

The climb to the top of this tiny staircase on of the most exciting experiences but the view of the surrounding towns and mountains made this point one of the most photographed locations in the area.

Ambuluwawa is not only a tourist destination but also a site of cultural and religious importance for the people of Sri Lanka. It offers a unique opportunity to experience the country’s diverse religious heritage while appreciating its natural wonders.

Best Time to Travel to Ambuluwawa

In Sri Lanka, the dry season, which normally lasts between December and March, is the ideal time to visit Ambuluwawa. The weather is often good throughout these months, with bright skies and little rain. It is comfortable to engage in outdoor pursuits like trekking and experiencing Ambuluwawa’s natural beauty because of its mild temperature. Additionally, the place is best visited in the morning or late evening when the sun is at its most gentle.

Ambuluwawa Ticket Prices

Ambuluwawa ticket price for tourists is 500 LKR for kids and 1000 LKR for adults. Tickets for locals are 30 LKR for kids and 90 LKR for adults. You can purchase tickets at the entrance or on-line.

Entry Type	Cost (LKR)
Foreign – Adult	1,000
Foreign – Child	500
Local – Adult	90
Local – Child	30
Motor Bike / Three Wheeler	50
Car / Van	200
Bus	300

Ambuluwawa – Biodiversity

Biodiversity at Ambuluwawa has a more complex expansion than that of the common examples of biodiversity. Ambuluwawa is a rock mountain but it is different from rock mountains commonly seen in Sri Lanka. It is made of a special type of rock known as “Inselberg” and is least subject to erosion caused by natural forces.

Experiments on the diversity of vegetation at Ambuluwawa are still in progress. According to the research work so far, there are about 200 varieties of plants belonging to 80 plant families. The soil here is red or brown and belongs to the latezoic type. Medicinal plants known as ‘iramusu ‘, ‘ muva kiriya ‘ and ‘ nawa handi ‘ are the common plants grown in the area.

Surrounding the mountain there are uniformly spread ever-green forests, groves of blossomed flower plants, and creepers which make the breeze around the mountain cool. The panoramic view of the mountain ranges is enticing and impressive. Clearly, visible mountains such as Pidurutalagala in the east, Bathalegala or Bible Rock in the west, Sri Pada or Adams Peak in the south, and Knuckles range in the north enrich the scenic beauty of the place. Apart from these, mountain ranges associated with Alagalla and Kadugannawa, mountains like Hanthana and Hunnasgiri, and mountains in Nuwara Eliya district are also clearly visible and they add beauty to the surroundings.

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Looking down after climbing the stupa, you can see the spiral stair case

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - View from top of the stupa

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Last steps on the stupa is barely passable

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Ambuluwawa Stupa with the cylindrical base

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Buddha Statue at the top of the mountain

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - View of the Gampola town from top of the stupa

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity ComplexView of the Ambuluwawa mountain with the stupa at the top from Bin-Vino Hotel

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Ambuluwawa stupa in the morning mist

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Ambuluwawa Stupa

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Observation Tower at the top

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Part of the Boulder Garden

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - The top of the Stupa with the staircase going around it all the way to the top

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - View of the observation tower after climbing up all the way on the stupa

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - View of the stupa from the Observation Tower

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - View of the observation tower after climbing half way of the stupa

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Looking doen from the observation tower you can see the star shaped stair case

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - Bell Tower

Ambuluwawa - Biodiversity Complex - The Supa and the Observation Tower

Also See

Map of Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex – Gampola

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Driving Directions to Ambuluwawa

Route from Colombo to Ambuluwawa, Gampola	Route from Kandy to Ambuluwawa, Gampola
Though : Peradeniya distance : 125 km Travel time : 4 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Though : Gampola distance : 25 km Travel time : 1 hour Driving directions : see on google map