Heart-stopping video of ascent up 'crazy' tower in Sri Lanka

Breathe in! Traveller films heart-stopping video of her ascent up ‘crazy narrow’ spiral steps on the outside of a spectacular tower in Sri Lanka, with barely enough room for two to pass

• The staircase at Ambuluwawa Tower is shielded only by a waist-high handrail
• Footage by blogger Janet Newenham shows the climb isn’t for the faint-hearted
• She said: ‘The busier the tower, the more claustrophobic one can feel’

The views from the top of Ambuluwawa Tower in Sri Lanka are heavenly, but some may find the climb up there pure hell, as a traveller’s footage of her ascent shows.

Ambuluwawa Tower looks innocent enough from a distance – but get up close and visitors will see that wrapped around the outside is an extremely narrow spiral staircase that winds its way to the top, with a stone handrail that’s barely waist high. To enjoy the spectacular views from the 157ft (48-metre) summit, visitors must brave these stairs, which towards the top are barely wide enough for two people.

Janet Newenham, who runs a tour company called ‘Janets Journeys’, filmed herself conquering the ‘crazy narrow’ staircase, with her nerve-shredding clip showing that the climb is definitely not an experience anyone with a fear of heights or who suffers from claustrophobia would enjoy.

Janet, 36, told MailOnline Travel: ‘I’ve actually climbed this tower five times on various trips, and it’s been different each time. The busier the tower, the more claustrophobic one can feel. It can get a bit scary, especially if you’re scared of heights.’

Janet Newenham, who runs a tour company called ‘Janets Journeys’, filmed herself conquering the ‘crazy narrow’ staircase of Ambuluwawa Tower in Sri Lanka. Janet is pictured at the top of the tower in the still above with her friend Veronica

Janet, 36, told MailOnline Travel: ‘It can get a bit scary, especially if you’re scared of heights’

Ambuluwawa Tower is located on the summit of Ambuluwawa mountain, 3,567ft (1,087m) above sea level

Any moments of panic?

‘Not for me,’ she said, ‘but many of my friends refused to go up and some definitely had their moments as we got higher and higher. The wall isn’t very high, so it can feel very daunting the higher you get.’

The ordeal, however, is worth it.

Irish travel blogger Janet continued: ‘The view is absolutely spectacular, and it gets better the higher you get. You get 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside. You can see down to nearby towns and villages, rivers and rolling hills.’

Janet made her video during a 20-day tour of Sri Lanka with her friend Veronica and described climbing the tower as ‘one of the highlights’, adding that ‘driving a Tuk Tuk up to the base point is an adventure in itself’.

The view from the top of the tower is described as being ‘absolutely spectacular’

Those who suffer from claustrophobia may not find ascending the tower terribly enjoyable

From the top visitors can gaze upon nearby towns and villages, and rivers and rolling hills

Cone-shaped Ambuluwawa Tower houses a pagoda of a Buddhist temple, reveals Visit Sri Lanka, and is located on the summit of Ambuluwawa mountain, 3,567ft (1,087m) above sea level.

The nearest major city is Kandy, which lies around an hour’s drive to the north.

For more on Janet’s tours visit janetsjourneys.com. For more videos from Janet visit www.youtube.com/@JanetNewenham.

Cone-shaped Ambuluwawa Tower houses a pagoda of a Buddhist temple and is located on the summit of Ambuluwawa mountain, 3,567ft (1,087m) above sea level

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