Our list of famous towers features some of the most remarkable structures ever constructed. This stunning tower in Sri Lanka can hold a candle to any of these.
Not only is it located in a remarkable location, but its incredible height also ensures it’s one of the most fascinating observation towers in the world.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the Lotus Tower, a building with some intriguing stories to tell.
1. It’s located near the waterfront of a lake in the heart of Colombo
The Lotus Tower is also known as the Colombo Lotus Tower, a reference to its location in the capital city of Sri Lanka.
It’s located on the waterfront of Beira Lake, a relatively small natural lake in the heart of the city that has a surface area of 0.654 square kilometers (0.253 square miles).
Because of the central location of this lake in the huge city of Colombo, it has shrunk quite a bit over the previous century.
A lot of nearby lands have been reclaimed and today, the lake is surrounded by businesses. It also serves as a connection to the Indian Ocean via several canals.
Remarkably, Beira Lake still retains the name it was given during the Portuguese Colonial era in Sri Lanka.
2. The tower was initially planned to be built in a suburb of Colombo
It’s hard to imagine a more suitable area to build the city’s most prominent landmark. This is pretty much an area that can be described as downtown Colombo.
Beira Lake was of major importance during the Dutch, Portuguese, and English colonial eras and has retained this status today.
The original plan was to build the Lotus Tower in the Peliyagoda district of Colombo, an area on the northeastern outskirts of the city. Luckily, this plan was shelved and replaced with its current location.
3. It’s used as both a telecommunication tower and a tourist attraction
The incredible landmark in Colombo serves a wide variety of purposes. The Lotus Tower is used as both a telecommunications tower and a mixed-use tourist attraction.
The tower features antennas that are leased by local television stations and provides a wide variety of functions for visitors.
Apart from an observation deck, a revolving restaurant, and a space to host events, the tower also features 6 luxury suites where you can stay the night.
4. The cornerstone was laid in 2012 but the tower wasn’t completed until 2019
Building the tower was done as a collaboration of various institutions and corporations. Both the China National Electronics Import & Export Corporation (CEIEC) and Aerospace Long March International Trade Co. Ltd (ALIT) were involved in the project.
The President of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Foreign Ministry jointly signed the contract on January 3, 2012, and the cornerstone was laid shortly after.
The project cost about $113 million and took over 7 years to complete. The opening ceremony was held on September 16, 2019, in the presence of the country’s 7th president, Maithripala Sirisena.
5. The Lotus Tower in Colombo holds a remarkable record
The tower passed the 125 meters (410 feet) mark in December 2014 and had reached an impressive height of 255 meters (837 feet) by July 2015.
The most complicated part of the tower was still to come, the lotus-shaped pod that features 7 floors full of tourist attractions and facilities.
Upon completion in 2019, the tower reached a height of 350 meters (1148.3 feet). This is a figure that made it the tallest self-supported structure in South Asia.
Other interesting stats are that it’s the 11th-tallest tower in Asia and the 19th-tallest tower in the world.
6. The design of the tower has a special meaning in Sri Lankan culture
The tower takes its name from the remarkable design of the upper 7 floors. These were decorated in such a way that the top section resembles a lotus flower.
This not only made the tower one of the most amazing landmarks in Colombo but also a symbol for all of Sri Lanka.
The lotus flower is a sign of purity in Sri Lankan culture. It reflects the country’s development of which the Lotus Tower has become the ultimate symbol.
7. The observation deck is located on the 7th floor of the flower
The observation deck is located o the top floor of the upper section of the tower. This is at a height of 244 meters (800 feet) above the ground below.
The central location and this staggering height ensure you get the most dazzling views imaginable of the entire metropolitan area of Colombo.
8. The tower is magnificently illuminated at night
The opening ceremony of the tower was accompanied by an amazing fireworks display. It also highlighted the fact that the tower is magnificently illuminated at night.
The green base, the red it purple lotus-shaped upper floors, and the orange antenna on top transform this structure into one of the most stunning landmarks you’ll ever come across.
