At first sight the Ambuluwawa Tower looks more Gormenghast than Sri Lanka. This extraordinary structure sits atop the stupa of the Buddhist Temple at Ambuluwala and should definitely be on the “must see” list for any visitor.  It is possible to climb right to the top of the 48 metre spire via an external staircase, and whilst the ascent is not for the faint hearted,  the views from the top are unparalleled.

Ambuluwala is near Gampola in the Kandy District and the site, which hosts an interdenominational religious centre alongside a botanical garden, perches on the top of a 1000m high mountain so even if you don’t fancy climbing the tower itself, the views from ground level are still pretty spectacular.