By Ruchika Seneviratne
It is the ‘Full happening’ place in Colombo right now. It seems everyone wants to go and post a selfie there, or enjoy the view or hangout. If you live in or nearby Colombo, chances are you’ve seen this tower from some angle when you look up at the sky. Yes, that’s right. We’re talking about Neluma Kuluna, the symbolic landmark right in the heart of Colombo. While there are a few eyebrows raised and sceptical looks when it comes to this monument, one cannot deny that it truly is an iconic monument. While there are a lot of things to expect there, we’ve picked the top five things to expect In Nelum Kuluna. Before we get into the list, let us give you some background information on Nelum Kuluna.
The Colombo Lotus Tower, also known as Nelum Kuluna, is the second tallest skyscraper in South Asia, the 11th tallest in Asia and the 19th tallest in the World. Standing at a height of 356 metres, this gigantic tower is the talk of the town and is definitely one of the hottest tourist attractions in Colombo. While its main purpose is as a transmission tower for TV and radio waves, there is lot more to it than that. Banquet halls, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls and much more are available to be explored in this big great tower. The building of this tower commenced on 2012 and after a decade, it was opened to the public in 2022. Now, let us look at 5 things to expect at Nelum Kuluna.
1. Revolving restaurant
We start our list on a high (literally) with the revolving restaurant at the top of the tower. While there are other restaurants in the premises, this one definitely takes the spotlight, not through any fault of the others but due to the mesmerising view available. Every 90 minutes, it completes a revolution so you can enjoy a scenic 360° view of Colombo from nearly 400 metres up while enjoying a delicious meal. It certainly doesn’t get better than that.
2. Concerts and events
Step aside Nelum Kuluna outdoor, Viharamahadevi Park, for there is a new player in the street of outdoor concert venues. Due to the sheer size and ideal location, Nelum kuluna outdoor has quickly grabbed the attention of the Show business organisations and artists alike as the next big musical show venue and with good reason as well, as it proved to be a superb venue for recently concluded concerts such as HellFire and Slowflow live. It is nearly 54, 000 square feet in size, so it can definitely hold a large audience.
3. The Observation deck
If you are a person who likes to enjoy the more beautiful things in life like spectacular views, sunsets etc., look no further than the observation deck at Nelum Kuluna. Located in the seventh floor, the splendid views it offers will keep you happy and attached for hours. Couple that with the beautifully decorated interior and you get a place to have a quiet leisure time and also a perfect place to take pictures and spend time with your loved ones.
4. Shopping malls
Shopping! Can’t with can’t without! This Enormous shopping centre in the first floor has all the hot brands and popular shops in Colombo, all in one place. Covering an area of around 52, 000 square feet, rest assured this shopping centre will deliver all your needful and more. You can also get various souvenirs and tokens, to remember the visit to Nelum Kuluna.
5. Hotels
After a tiring yet fulfilling day at Nelum Kuluna, you can relax then and there with the various hotel options available in the 5th floor, where you can have cup of tea or coffee and enjoy a fantastic view of the Beira Lake and the bustling city of Colombo from your room itself. You can also have a tranquil and relaxing time by renting a guest houses in the Lotus Suite as well.
That wraps up our fine list of things to expect in Nelum Kuluna. However, this is definitely not all it has to offer. There are more activities inside and certainly more on the way with the landmark attracting all sorts of investors to it (Fingers crossed on the bungee jumping 😉 ).
Nelum Kuluna is open on all days of the week from 2pm to 10pm on weekdays and from 12 noon to 11pm on weekends with time being set aside for school children to visit from 9am to 2pm on weekdays (Exact timeframes may vary with amendments). Tickets are priced at 500 and 2000 rupees for locals and a 200 rupee ticket for children under ten years old. For foreigners, tickets are priced at 20 dollars.
