Sri Lanka is one of the hottest travel destinations for Indian tourists. Even as thousands of Indians now traveling to the island nation, we kick off a special series on Sri Lanka with this list of nine things you totally must not miss in Colombo.
Photograph: Abhishek Mande Bhot
With the quarter century-long civil war finally coming to an end in 2009, Sri Lanka is racing to embrace the future. The economy of the tiny island nation is being driven by its tourism industry. Indeed, Sri Lanka is a hidden gem of the Arabian Sea. It boasts of stunning beaches, (some that could even give our Indian beaches a run for their money) as well as quaint hill stations and ancient ruins. With the government putting its might behind tourism and infrastructure projects, Sri Lanka is becoming the newest tourist hotspot in south east Asia. With its shared colonial past and tropical climate, Sri Lanka in many ways is reminiscent of India of a bygone era.
Morris Minors continue to amble along the streets of Colombo with imposing British Era buildings serving as a picturesque backdrop. Anurag Kashyap chose Sri Lanka as the place to set his period drama, Bombay Velvet and Deepa Mehta discovered the Bombay of Midnight’s Children in Colombo? And Indian tourists are going in droves to Sri Lanka where they see how their own country must have been before it got all modern and fast and crazy.
Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, will in several ways remind you of Mumbai. The port city is a bustling place with bazaars and beaches and colonial era buildings. Though much cleaner than the bustling Indian metropolis, Colombo retains its old-world charm even as it bursts at its seams. Gall Face Green is to Colombo what Marine Drive is to Mumbai and Marina Beach to Chennai and Colombo’s fort area gets its name from an old fort, quite like in Mumbai.
While Colombo doesn’t have much of a nightlife to speak of for a capital, the city does have a lot of things to keep you busy for a few days. and Visit it before modern, tasteless skyscrapers crowd the Colombo skyline
Here is our list of nine things to do while in Colombo:
1. Visit the National Museum of Colombo
Photo Courtesy: Dhammika/Creative Commons
Sri Lanka’s most important cultural institution, galleries in the National Museum of Colombo go as far back as 1877. Established on January 1 that year by Sir William Henry George, the museum offers a great insight into Sri Lanka’s cultural past. On display are palm leaf manuscripts and the throne of Kandyan monarchs to the 9th century Bodhisattva sandals and weapons from the colonial era. Don’t also miss very wide and colorful collection of Sri Lanka’s demon masks.
Location: Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Visiting hours: 8 am – 6 pm
2. Visit the Viharamahadevi Park
Photograph Courtesy: Shutterstock
Formerly known as Victoria Park, Viharamahadevi Park is just a stone’s throw away from the National Museum. The oldest and the largest park in Colombo was first named after the British queen Victoria and now owes its new name to another queen, Viharamahadevi, the mother of King Dutugamunu, the Sinhalese king who ruled the land between 161 BC to 137 BC. During World War II, British Army along with the Australian 17th Brigade was based in the park. It took years for the park to be restored before it was thrown open to the public in 1951. Viharamahadevi Park also boasted of a cricket ground that was used for first-class cricket between 1927 and 1995. At least a couple of international games were also played here. Perhaps the most recognizable monument in the Viharamahadevi Park is the huge statue of Buddha that is pictured above and a series of water fountains. There is a small zoo, and of course a large play area for kids.
Location: Colombo 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka
3. Experience the Colombo City Tour
Photo Courtesy: Dhammika Heenpella/Creative Commons
What better way to explore Sri Lanka than the Colombo City Tour! This is the only open deck sightseeing service in Sri Lanka and commences from the Dutch Hospital at Colombo. The bus halts at three stops, namely the Town Hall, The National Museum and the Arcade Independence Square. It also passes by iconic destinations such as the Light House, the War Memorial and many more.
Location: No: 84, S. De S, Jayasinghe Mawatha, Kohuwala, Sri Lanka.
Timings: 4pm – 7 pm
4. Visit the Galle Face Green
Photograph: Shutterstock
The five hectare urban park that overlooks the Indian Ocean stretches for some half a kilometer is also the largest open space in the bustling capital. Even though it was laid out by Sir Henry George Ward the Governor of British Ceylon for women and children ‘to take in the air’, Gall Face Green has a history that dates back even further back in time. The Dutch, who controlled the island before the British arrived and crashed the party, were responsible for clearing the are so their canons on the Fort (yes the one after which Colombo Fort gets its name) could get a clear line of fire. Over the years Gall Face Green was used for several purposes — from racing horses to playing golf, cricket, football, tennis and even rugby — but today the park plays host to hundreds of families and canoodling couples over the weekends as well as regular joggers and morning walkers. Colombowallahs love Gall Face Green so much the transport department had to re-do the train route that otherwise runs along the sea throughout most of Colombo.
Location: A2, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Location: Kegalle-Rambukkana Rd, Rambukkana 71100, Sri Lanka
5. Indulge in the mouth-watering cuisine of Sri Lanka
Photo Courtesy: Kake/Creative Commons
Polos, a green jackfruit curry, served along with steamed rice is the most iconic dish of Sri Lanka. Kottu roti or Kottu is perhaps Sri Lanka’s favorite fast food, and is yet another speciality you must indulge into to experience the true flavor of Sri Lanka. Athirasa or Athiraha, a sweet cake made up of jaggery and flour is a favorite dessert amongst the locals here.
Where to eat:
1. The Gallery Cafe
Location: The Gallery Cafe, 2 Alfred House Road, Colombo 00300, Sri Lanka
2. Curry Leaf
Location: Curry Leaf, Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha, Fort, Colombo, Sri Lanka
6. Visit the Independence Memorial Hall
Photo Courtesy: Dhammika Heenpella/Creative Commons
Built to commemorate the independence of Sri Lanka, the Independence Memorial Hall is perhaps the most iconic monument of Colombo. Built on February 4, 1948 the monument marks the beginning of self rule and democracy. Currently, the Independence Memorial Hall is a venue for national celebrations and religious events.
Location: Colombo 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka
7. Step back in time at Colombo Fort
Photograph courtesy: Ignacio Gallego/Creative Commons
The Fort district in Colombo houses few of the most spectacular architectural structures of Sri Lanka. The most notable being the President’s House. Fort is also known as the financial district, where the Colombo Stock Exchange and World Trade Centre of Colombo is located. The Republic Building, the Colombo Post Office, the Old Parliament Building and the Colombo Light House are various other landmarks you must not miss on.
Colombo’s Fort district gets its name from a Portuguese fort that once stood here. The fort fell in the hands of the Dutch in 1656 who used it to protect their trading interests at sea as well as protect themselves from the Sinhalese kings who were constantly laying siege to it. After the British took control of the island and Colombo became its capital, the walls of the fort were broken down to help develop the area better.
Today, the fort area houses some of the finest colonial structures in Sri Lanka. The most prominent of these being the President’s House which remains out of bounds to the general public. Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the old General Post Office, Colombo Metropolitan Police building, Police Headquarters, the Central Telegraph Office, Sri Lanka Port Authority building and the Cargills & Millers building are some of the several striking structures in the fort area. The area is also the financial district of Colombo and houses the offices of all major banks of the country as well as the World Trade Center, one of the city’s tallest buildings and the Colombo Stock Exchange.
8. Shop in the street markets of Colombo
Photograph courtesy: Nazly Ahmed/Creative Commons
Inland from Fort are the bazaars of Pettah (Keyzer Street), one of Colombo’s oldest districts. The market houses religious buildings of all faiths and also shops that seem to sell everything you could possibly think of. Within Pettah is the Federation of Self Employees Market which is a great place for everyday household goods while Manning Market sells all things (read vegetables and fruits) fresh. For your non vegetarian needs, Kollupitiya is the place to be.
Pettah Floating Market (pictured above) that was opened in 2014 is located on Bastian Mawatha in Pettah and has close to 100 stalls several of them being established on boats of Beria Lake. The market is primarily a tourist attraction and sells the usual stuff — from handicraft to fresh produce.
Also selling fresh (albeit organic) produce as well as art and handicraft is Good Market, a social initiative that aims at promoting local organic produce. The market convenes every Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm at the Nuga Tree Car Park behind the Ministry of Sports and next to the Colombo Racecourse.
9. Visit the beach resort of Mount Lavinia
Photograph courtesy: Hotel Mount Lavinia
A suburb of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is best known for its long beaches and the grand mansion around which the area developed. The mansion, which is now a hotel, was once home to Sir Thomas Maitland, the governor of Ceylon in the early 1800s. Maitland was smitten by Lovina, a local dancer who was part of a troupe that performed at a party held to welcome him. The two soon became lovers and met in private. In a few years, Maitland left for Malta where he died as a bachelor. The governor’s home, where he resided was named Mount Lavinia House, is today’s Mount Lavinia Hotel. A statue of ‘Lady Lovina’ stands in the hotel which was also one of the settings for the film The Bridge on the River Kwai.
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