Colombo Trip Overview
As Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo is the gateway to the beautiful island nation. With so many great places to visit in Sri Lanka, your first instinct might be to skip over Colombo, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find it definitely worth exploring! Colombo has become a worthy destination in its own right and makes an excellent start – or finish – to your Sri Lankan adventures. The legacies of colonial Colombo’s garden roots are still very much intact along its often-shady boulevards. Fort is a compelling place thanks to ongoing restoration of its landmark colonial architecture, while Pettah brims with markets and rampant commerce. Colombo’s cosmopolitan side supports ever-more stylish eateries, galleries and shops. Surprises abound: with a little exploration you’ll find great local food, characterful shops and tiny, convivial cafes.
Additional Info
Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Starts: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
Explore Colombo Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
As Sri Lanka’s largest city, Colombo is the gateway to the beautiful island nation. With so many great places to visit in Sri Lanka, your first instinct might be to skip over Colombo, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find it definitely worth exploring! Colombo has become a worthy destination in its own right and makes an excellent start – or finish – to your Sri Lankan adventures. The legacies of colonial Colombo’s garden roots are still very much intact along its often-shady boulevards. Fort is a compelling place thanks to ongoing restoration of its landmark colonial architecture, while Pettah brims with markets and rampant commerce. Colombo’s cosmopolitan side supports ever-more stylish eateries, galleries and shops. Surprises abound: with a little exploration you’ll find great local food, characterful shops and tiny, convivial cafes.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque, Second Cross Street, Colombo 01100 Sri Lanka
Jami Ul-Alfar Mosque also known as Red Mosque is a historic mosque situated on Second Cross Street in Pettah, Colombo. It is one of the oldest mosques in Colombo and hence attracts many visitors and tourists. Construction of the mosque was completed in 1909. It is situated in a prime location in Colombo along with the Pettah Bazaar. The mosque was commissioned by the local Indian Muslim community based in Pettah with the main aim of fulfilling their mandatory five-times-daily prayer and Jummah prayers on Fridays. The Jami-Ul-Alfar Mosque draws elements from Indo-Islamic architecture and was designed and built by Habibu Labbe Saibu Labbe.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Old Parliament Building, Fort, Colombo Sri Lanka
Built in the Neo-baroque style of architecture, the Old Parliament Building is one of the major attractions of Colombo. The beautiful architecture and the history associated with the building is fascinating, to say the least. The building was opened on January 29, 1930 by Governor Sir Herbert Stanley. When the State Council of Ceylon was established a year later, the old building was used as the office space for the council. The building was designated as the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1977. In 1983, the Sri Lankan parliament moved out to the new complex in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte. Since then, the Old Parliament Building has functioned as the home to the Presidential Secretariat. You will find that the front garden of the building complex is host to several bronze statues of eminent statesmen including that of Rt Hon D. S. Senanayake, Hon Dudley Senanayake and General Sir John Kotalawela.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Seema Malakaya Temple, Sir James Pieris Mawatha, Colombo Sri Lanka
In the middle of chaotic greater Colombo, on the emerald waters of the Beira Lake, is the island temple of Seema Malaka. The Seema Malaka is perhaps best known for its minimalist architecture designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka’s most famous architect and the much celebrated “father of tropical modernism.” Originally, almost 120 years ago, the Seema Malaka formed an integral part of the Gangarama temple where Buddhist monks were ordained. But in the seventies, the Seema Malaka disintegrated and began to sink underwater. The structure was re-constructed in the late seventies and was re-designed by Bawa. The impressive project was funded by S.H. Moosajee, a local Muslim merchant, and his wife, in memory of their son, Ameer S. Moosajee.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Gangaramaya (Vihara) Buddhist Temple, 61 Sri Jinaratana Road, Colombo Sri Lanka
Gangaramaya is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Colombo, started by the famous scholar monk Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Nayaka Thera in the late 19th Century. Gangaramaya temple’s architecture features a heterogeneous mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese styles. Located on the banks of the famous Beira Lake in Colombo 2, the Gangaramaya consists of the main temple, a museum, a library and vocational training centers. The 120-year-old Gangaramaya is not a typical Sri Lankan temple. Situated in the bustling inner-city Colombo, nearby the scenic Beira Lake, this intriguing temple complex is simultaneously a hugely popular tourist attraction, a place of worship and a learning and vocational training center.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Colombo National Museum, Albert Crescent, Colombo Sri Lanka
The National Museum Colombo first opened in 1877 with only 800 exhibits showcasing some aspects of the history and culture of Sri Lanka. Today, it has over 100,000 exhibits and the most important library on the island. The Museum became so popular over the years therefore the Sri Lankan Government had to establish a new ministerial department dedicated solely to manage the museum. The two-storied Italianate building and its lush, well-manicured lawn with banyan trees is an exhibit in itself. Visitors are greeted at the Museum’s lobby by a serene Buddha statue in meditation pose carved out of stone dating as far back as 4th to 5th century.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Galle Face Green, Galle Road, Colombo Sri Lanka
Galle Face Beach is a half kilometer promenade in the heart of Colombo and was initially laid out in 1859 by Sir Henry Ward, Governor of British Ceylon. The stretch of land was used for horse racing and golf and was known as the Colpetty Race Course. Today, Galle Face Green is a favorite place for families, children and picnickers. There are many stalls along the beach and they offer food, drinks, kites, toys, trinkets and many other goodies. The variety of wadey (a popular fried snack) like those with prawns (Isso Wadey) are sold at low prices and the achcharu (pickle) is always perfectly sweet and spicy.
Duration: 1 hour
